NEW DELHI — A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a ban on the Netflix series “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.” The PIL, brought forward by Surjit Singh Yadav, a 60-year-old farmer and leader of the “Hindu Sena,” urges the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to revoke the show’s certification.
Yadav’s petition argues that the series misrepresents the true identities of the terrorists involved in the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814. According to the petition, the real hijackers—Muslims named Ibrahim Akhtar, Shahid Akhtar Sayeed, Sunny Ahmad Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir—have been replaced with fictional names “Bhola” and “Shankar,” which are closely associated with Lord Shiva, a significant figure in Hinduism. Yadav alleges that this misrepresentation not only misinforms viewers but also offends the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.
The plea criticises the series for failing to convey the lasting impact of the terrorists released during the hijacking, thereby diminishing the gravity of the historical event. The use of Hindu deities’ names for the hijackers is described as a significant distortion of facts and an insult to the Hindu community.
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Advocate Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh represents Yadav in the case. The petition argues that the series distorts historical facts, hurts religious sentiments, and spreads misinformation. The PIL seeks directions from the court to the CBFC to withdraw the show’s certification.
The series, directed by Anubhav Sinha and featuring prominent actors like Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, and Pankaj Kapur, premiered on Netflix on August 291. Despite its star-studded cast and compelling narrative, the series has faced backlash on social media for allegedly distorting facts and ‘whitewashing’ terrorism.
The controversy has prompted the Indian government to summon Netflix India’s content head, Monika Shergill, to address these concerns. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken the issue seriously, emphasizing the need to respect India’s culture and civilization in media portrayals.
As of now, Netflix has not issued an official public response to the controversy surrounding the series “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.” The company is likely reviewing the situation and preparing a statement, especially given the legal and public scrutiny.
The Delhi High Court will hear the PIL, which raises important questions about historical accuracy and religious sensitivity in media representation. Legal experts believe this case could set a precedent for how sensitive historical events are portrayed in media and the responsibilities of content creators in ensuring factual accuracy and cultural sensitivity.