FIR against two for hurting religious sentiments through ‘A Suitable Boy

BHOPAL: An FIR was registered in Madhya Pradesh on Monday against two executives of OTT platform Netflix for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through its web series "A Suitable Boy" which showed kissing scenes purportedly on the campus of a temple, an official said.

A BJP leader named Gaurav Tiwari registered a case against Netflix in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa. Tiwari demanded apology from Netflix and makers of the series, and removal of "objectionable scenes".

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra informed that the FIR has named Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content (Netflix) and Ambika Khurana, Director, Public Policies (Netflix).

"I had asked officials to examine the series 'A Suitable Boy' being streamed on Netflix to check if kissing scenes in it were filmed in a temple and if it hurt religious sentiments. The examination prima facie found that these scenes are hurting the sentiments of a particular religion," Mishra said in a video statement.

"On the basis of a complaint filed by Gaurav Tiwari, an FIR is being registered under section 295 (A) (malicious acts to outrage and insulting the religious feelings and beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in Rewa against Netflix officials- Monika Shergill and Ambika Khurana," he added.

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On Saturday, Gaurav Tiwari had submitted a memorandum to the Rewa superintendent of police demanding an apology from Netflix and makers of the series, and removal of "objectionable scenes" from "A Suitable Boy".

"Kissing scenes (filmed) inside a temple of Lord Maheshwar (a historic town located on the banks of Narmada in Madhya Pradesh) have hurt the sentiments of Hindus. This is also encouraging 'love jihad'," Tiwari had stated.

He had named Monika Shergill and Ambika Khurana in his complaint application.

A section of netizens have now started to demand a boycott on Netflix alleging that a series directed by Mira Nair is promoting ‘love jihad’.

The netizens claimed that Nair’s web series, A Suitable Boy has been promoting ‘love jihad’ after there was a scene where an interfaith couple was seen in a kissing scene in a temple.

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