MHB Police File Case Against Alt Balaji Telefilm and Ektaa Kapoor Under POCSO Act

Mumbai: The MHB Police have initiated legal proceedings against Alt Balaji Telefilm, along with managing director Ektaa Kapoor and chairperson Shobha Kapoor, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. This action follows an order from a Borivali court and is based on allegations concerning obscene scenes involving minors in three web series aired on the platform.

The case was filed on October 18 and stems from a complaint submitted by a 30-year-old yoga instructor from Borivali, who initially reported the matter to the police in 2021. According to the FIR, minors were allegedly used inappropriately during the filming of the web series Class of 2017, Class of 2020, and Gandi Baat.

The FIR claims that the Class of 2017 series contains a scene featuring two minors that includes objectionable content and obscene dialogue, which the complainant describes as soft pornography. Furthermore, it highlights a scene where a woman is shown smoking without the necessary health warning, raising concerns about health messaging.

The Class of 2020 series, targeted towards youth, reportedly features scenes with 16-year-old minors engaging in inappropriate behavior, including a controversial "chingum" scene and another depicting a boy in a school uniform acting in an objectionable manner. Similarly, the Gandi Baat series is accused of featuring comparable explicit content.

The FIR also states that the Alt Balaji website promotes a mix of obscene and spiritual content, utilizing dubious promotional tactics. Notably, the complainant previously approached the Child Rights Commission in 2021 regarding these issues.

In response to these allegations, the police have invoked several charges, including sections of the POCSO Act relating to the use of children for pornographic purposes and the storage of such material. Other charges include violations of the Information Technology Act, the Women Prohibition Act, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

As investigations continue, Alt Balaji Telefilm has yet to issue an official statement regarding the allegations. This case underscores growing concerns about the representation of minors in digital media and the obligations of content creators to protect children's rights. The police are expected to conduct a thorough examination of the claims.The police are investigating the matter. However, Alt Balaji Telefilm has not released a statement yet.