Allahabad HC Grants Interim Protection to Producers of Amazon Prime Web Series, ‘Mirzapur’

On Friday, the Allahabad High Court granted interim protection to the producers of the Amazon Prime web series, ‘Mirzapur’Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, over a case filed against them for allegedly hurting religious, social and regional sentiments by the portrayal of the town of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh.

'There is prima facie force in the petitioner's argument that the offences alleged in the FIR are not made out": HC

A Bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Gupta and Subhash Chand held that there is prima facie force in the petitioner's argument that the offences alleged in the First Information Report are not made out.

"Having considered the rival submissions, we prima-facie find force in the contentions of learned counsel for the petitioners. We are also of the opinion that the matter requires further consideration ... Having regard to the facts of the case and the submissions made, till the next date of listing or till submission of police report under Section 173(2) CrPC, whichever is earlier, no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioners in pursuance of the FIR," the Court Noted.

Web series portrays the town of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh in an indecent and improper manner: FIR

The co-founder of Excel Entertainment, Sidhwani who produced Mirzapur, had moved HC after an FIR was registered under Sections 295A, 504 and 505 of IPC. The FIR alleged that the web series portrayed the town of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh in an indecent and improper manner.

One, Arvind Chaturvedi lodged an FIR on January 17 in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. He alleged that ‘certain’ content in the series portrays the town of Mirzapur as anti-social and infested with crime and that the show promotes illicit relationships, portrays a polluted picture of the legal and judicial system.

Series is totally a work of fiction, which is also clarified by way of a disclaimer at the start of each episode: petitioner

The petitioners while challenging the FIR, have argued that the series is totally a work of fiction, which is also clarified by way of a disclaimer at the start of each episode. It was also clarified that makers of the show respect all faiths and religions and that all places and events in the said series are completely fictional.

The matter has been listed for the first week of March.