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No relief for Tandav team as Indian top court refuses protection from arrest

No relief for Tandav team as Indian top court refuses protection from arrest

"You cannot play the role of character that hurts the sentiments of a community," says court.
28 Jan, 2021

The makers and actors of Amazon Prime web series Tandav failed to get relief from India's Supreme Court after it refused to grant them protection from arrest.

Multiple first information reports have been filed against them for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and the team is also facing violent threats.

According to NDTV, actor Zeeshan Ayyub, Amazon Creative Head Aparna Purohit and the maker of the series Himanshu Kishan Mehra had moved the top court asking for a freeze on possible arrest.

Their lawyers pointed out that the makers of the series have already apologised, and the contents had been removed, arguing that the serial was only a "political satire". A lawyer also quoted the case involving the Republic editor Arnab Goswami, where the court granted him protection from arrest upholding "personal liberty" of citizens, NDTV added.

Th top court, however, turned down the request. "Your right to freedom of speech is not absolute. You cannot play the role of character that hurts the sentiments of a community," the bench was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The court issued notice for clubbing multiple FIRs against them in various states.

What's the fuss about?

Hindu nationalist politicians of the BJP had objected to a scene depicting the Hindu God Shiva, played by Ayyub. A local official from the ruling party had registered a police complaint against the web series, claiming it was stirring a potential religious controversy and threatened to launch a protest at the company’s office in Mumbai.

Following the backlash against the Saif Ali Khan-Dimple Kapadia starrer, the makers of the show issued an unconditional apology and said changes were being made.

But that didn't appease everyone with Maharashtra Karni Sena chief Ajay Sengar offering "Rs 1 crore reward to anyone who slits tongue of those who insults Hindu gods and goddesses in the web series".

The commotion had also led to additional security outside Khan's Mumbai residence.

With increasing instances of complaints and calls to censor online content, India late last year brought streaming platforms under the oversight of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and said it plans to regulate their content.

To list a recent few examples of shows leading to brouhaha, there was the Netflix series A Suitable Boy which led to an Indian state asking police to investigate after a member of the country’s ruling party objected to scenes in which a Hindu girl kisses a Muslim boy; and another Netflix production, AK vs AK, in which the Indian Air Force asked Netflix to withdraw scenes from the mockumentary featuring Anil Kapoor.

"The IAF uniform in this video is inaccurately donned & the language used is inappropriate (sic)," the Indian Air Force had tweeted, leading the veteran actor to apologise.

Comments

Ahsan Jan 28, 2021 09:21am
Imagine trying to become Pakistan. Don't be us. Be better.
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Sayyar Khan Jan 28, 2021 11:11am
Great on the verge of destroying its so called democracy
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Amir Jan 28, 2021 11:15am
Glorious Indian ..
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Raj kumar Jan 28, 2021 11:15am
Proceeding legally is very much ok,but no threats of cutting tounge or killing. Those who issue such threat should also be proceeded against.
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John Smith Jan 28, 2021 11:19am
@Ahsan Imagine trying to become Pakistan. Don't be us. Be better. They know they can't make fun of Islam. In that case, why are they making fun of Hinduism? It is because for decades there has not been any backlash. It is sad that it has come to this state but it seems without any credible threat of backlash Hinduism will not get any respect. Then so be it.
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ajay Jan 28, 2021 11:24am
Must suffer for the deliberate attempt to hurt hindus
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SivaD Jan 28, 2021 11:26am
Ahsan, this is where we too are headed, it seems, albeit a few decades late.
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Manish Jan 28, 2021 11:27am
@Ahsan It means You are admiting that you are a bad society.
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hamid shafiq Jan 28, 2021 11:28am
Freedom of speech is very difficult
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Nasir Jan 28, 2021 11:29am
The court says " Your right to freedom of speech is not absolute. You cannot play the the role of character that hurts the sentiments of a community". Well the same applies to all that hurt sentiments of the Muslim .
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Hemant Jan 28, 2021 11:29am
@Ahsan India has been sleeping for a very long time. There is lot in Tandav which should have been said or shown. This objection has nothing to do about other religions ... it is to address suffering of the majority religion...
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Anonymouseee Jan 28, 2021 11:31am
It’s only a movie guys. Why do these Hindu extremists have such tiny hearts. Are they that insecure about their religion?
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Truth Jan 28, 2021 11:32am
As you sow, so shall you reap
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Uzair Jan 28, 2021 11:36am
A simple evidence of why south asian century is never coming.
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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan Jan 28, 2021 11:39am
Progressive and secular India at its best.
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Asim Jan 28, 2021 11:40am
India's own terrorism in its peak.
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Bipul Jan 28, 2021 11:41am
There is no blasphemy law in India so they will get away with some minor penalty.
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richie Jan 28, 2021 11:42am
why hurt anyone religion, and make fun of it, max you can make fun of your own religion, not others as a christian i dont care what people say against christanity, though richie
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Parvez Jan 28, 2021 11:53am
.... and yet the actions of Chrlie Hebdo ( which hurt the sentiments of an entire community ) was widely hailed by the Indian's who comment on our media sites, claiming Muslims should be more tolerant and freedom of speech was important. Is that not hypocrisy of the highest order ?
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sherry saleem Jan 28, 2021 11:56am
hope they get arrested so that they know what is the cost for living in so called shiny india !!
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jan 28, 2021 11:56am
What else could be expected of the biggest "Kangaroo Court" in the world?
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Ramana Jan 28, 2021 12:00pm
Good decision by court.
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PrakashG Jan 28, 2021 12:06pm
You also cannot incite violence and announce incentives for criminal activities. The Karni Sena head must also be brought to book.
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Omair Jan 28, 2021 12:08pm
@Ahsan absolutely! they are going our way, will only realize this decades later that this path leads to self destruction.
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Kris Jan 28, 2021 12:10pm
One group of extremists are trying to show a mirror to another group of extremists. And the common man is stuck in the middle.
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Teddy Jan 28, 2021 12:18pm
Tandav makers will have to face jail. You cant take things for granted and get away from insulting people and their culture.
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Vivek Jan 28, 2021 12:31pm
Hindu nationalists should let Tandav release in expected date. Remembering last time when karni sena was protesting against padmawati same way they are against Tandav and the outcome was nothing as presented by karni sena. Tandav can be something more progressive than imagined.
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Wolf Jan 28, 2021 12:55pm
If they are showing facts on screen let them to show if they are showing distorting facts then they should be stopped.
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Ishant Jan 28, 2021 01:02pm
Arnab Goswami is contributing to India. What actors are contributing?
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israr Jan 28, 2021 01:03pm
you showed farmers issue and you expect them to slow down on you, never bjp will do everything to stop you showing truth at international level
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Frank Jan 28, 2021 01:29pm
@Ahsan This issue is nothing to do with Pakistan but somehow you Indians can't help dragging Pakistan into it. Your obsession with Pakistan is unbelievable.
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MG Jan 28, 2021 01:45pm
The rogue bunch must be punished. The peace-loving community must not be confused with cowards
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Mahmood Jan 28, 2021 01:46pm
Pure Hindu agenda being shoved down the throats of minorities in India.
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Chrís Dăn Jan 28, 2021 01:53pm
Simply against secular values.
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Chrís Dăn Jan 28, 2021 01:54pm
@Ahsan but India is a secular country by constitution. Why such hindrances on basis of religion?
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VS Jan 28, 2021 01:54pm
@Sayyar Khan Whats your view on a similar issue that happened in France?
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Vivek Jan 28, 2021 02:04pm
@hamid shafiq You know the meaning of freedom of speech. It is far easy to preach than proactice.
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Vivek Jan 28, 2021 02:05pm
@Anonymouseee Yes we saw the great open heart in recent French incident? Remember?
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suvarna Jan 28, 2021 02:10pm
@Ishant You are wrong. Arnab is only a BJP/RSS mouthpiece and is getting a massive payment for it. He is not contributing but instigating people and inciting hatred and violence in the name of religion.
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Vivek Jan 28, 2021 02:12pm
@Mahmood - Don't worry. Minorities are free to migrate to other peaceful countries which was created for them.
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suvarna Jan 28, 2021 02:13pm
@John Smith Bollywood has always made fun of Islam but there has been no backlash from Muslims till date.
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Kaaga Nepali Jan 28, 2021 02:14pm
@Ahsan , why you indian hindus don’t find any shame while using muslim ids yet still spit the poison everywhere?
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Ajay Jan 28, 2021 02:15pm
Why on first place hurt feeling of any religion then backlash star then they apologize
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k k tiwari Jan 28, 2021 02:16pm
@Anonymouseee Same as u felt on a cartoon in French Magazine ,okay sir
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Imtiaz Karim Jan 28, 2021 02:44pm
Banana Democaray and so called secular Country its Hindu Republic of India. atleast, we are not hypocrate, Pakistan say openly Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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Umesh Jan 28, 2021 02:46pm
@Ahsan Becoming Pakistan ?Never. This is an effort to be Indians as defined by Indians. Not by Romila, not by Pakistan, not by Europe or China.
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Umesh Jan 28, 2021 02:47pm
@Nasir Who said no?
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Umesh Jan 28, 2021 02:56pm
@Frank Not because we like to or that we have time. We are here to keep the record straight in whatever ways possible to the possible extant.
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Umesh Jan 28, 2021 02:57pm
@Mahmood You are wrong. In this case where are minorities involved?
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Fastrack Jan 28, 2021 03:09pm
@Ahsan Nice try Indian neighbour. A nation of liars from PM to every citizen.
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Raju Jan 28, 2021 03:12pm
@suvarna You must be joking
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Karl Marx Jan 28, 2021 06:52pm
@Anonymouseee tell that to people in Paris.
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Sudhir Jan 28, 2021 06:59pm
@Anonymouseee You talk as though Muslims have large hearts.
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Ibrahim S Jan 28, 2021 07:15pm
You won't need Pakistan or China to destroy Indian democracy and secular system. Religious extremists completely erode any country with their close mind and unjust treatment . RSS/Modi damage to the secular India could be irreparable and or have lasting effect for years to come. I am have no doubt patriotic Indian will do something before it causes severe damage.
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Ibrahim S Jan 28, 2021 07:42pm
@Vivek - Recall history, who pushed out Buddhist from India .
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Gopal Patel Jan 28, 2021 09:21pm
Equality before law.
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Haris Jan 29, 2021 02:28am
@Raj kumar: relax and enjoy the prevalent extremism within your society. Abd don't forget to thank your Modiji and his cronies.
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Raghu Jan 29, 2021 11:07am
I'm tired of this religious nonsense in South Asia & since BJP has come to power, it has become a nuisance in India as well. @Kaaga Nepali: Isn't the pot calling kettle black ? Pakistani posing as a Nepali ?
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ravin Jan 29, 2021 03:33pm
The right decision by supreme court. The cheap gimmicks are by series makers to get publicity and make money, this has to be stopped. Yes, freedom of expression artistic liberties are important, but not deliberately used to provoke and used for making money by inciting controversies - especially when religious beliefs are involved. Cheap!! Utterly Cheap!!
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