YouTuber Vikas Pathak aka Hindustani Bhau had filed a case against Ekta Kapoor after her streaming platform ALTBalaji's web series was accused of insulting soldiers.
Entertainment: In a case filed against renowned TV and film producer Ekta Kapoor, the police have submitted their report to the court. This case pertains to a web series on her OTT platform ALTBalaji, which allegedly insulted the Indian Army and its uniform. The complaint in this case was lodged by YouTuber Vikas Pathak, also known as Hindustani Bhau. Now, the police have informed the court that no criminality was found against Ekta Kapoor and her platform, hence no legal action was taken.
What is the matter?
Vikas Pathak, in a private complaint filed in the Bandra Magistrate Court, alleged that a scene in an ALTBalaji web series insulted the Indian Army's uniform. According to him, the scene depicted a military officer engaged in inappropriate activities, which offended the dignity of the army. Following the complaint, the magistrate directed the Khar police station to investigate and submit a report.
What did the police say in the report?
According to a PTI report, the Mumbai police found in their investigation that no serving military officer or military department had filed a formal complaint against Ekta Kapoor or ALTBalaji. No criminal element was found in the allegations made in the complaint. An FIR has already been registered in Madhya Pradesh in this matter, so there is no need to register a separate case in Mumbai.
In his complaint, Vikas Pathak had included the names of Ekta Kapoor along with her parents Shobha Kapoor and Jeetendra Kapoor. The name of the ALTBalaji production house was also added to it. However, the police investigation clarified that Ekta Kapoor is the director of Balaji Telefilms Limited, while the complaint was regarding ALTBalaji, which is a separate legal entity.
Legal Aspect
Vikas Pathak's lawyer, Ali Kashif Khan Deshmukh, said that there is no restriction on registering criminal cases in different states on the same issue. However, the accused can apply to consolidate all the cases if they wish. The controversial episode of the web series related to this matter was allegedly broadcast in May 2020.
Ekta Kapoor's OTT platform ALTBalaji is known for its bold and experimental content. Many times, the web series of this platform have been embroiled in controversy and legal disputes regarding content. But in this case, the police report has given a major relief to Ekta Kapoor, as no concrete criminal evidence has been found in it.
