HC reserves order on Amazon Prime India head’s bail plea

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court on Thursday reserved its order on an anticipatory bail application filed by Aparna Purohit, head, India Originals, Amazon Prime Video, who is accused of inappropriate depiction of UP police personnel, Hindu deities and adverse portrayal of a character playing the prime minister in the web series ‘Tandav’.

The court further said till the pronouncement of order in the case, no coercive action should be taken against Purohit. Justice Sidharth passed the order while reserving the judgment.

Purohit was represented by senior advocate GS Chaturvedi who was assisted by advocates Praveen Kumar Singh and Syed Imran Ibrahim. Counsel for the petitioner argued, “The web series was a work of fiction. There was no intention of the applicant to outrage the religious feeling of any community.”

On January 19, the FIR was lodged on the complaint of one Balbir Azad of Raunija village under Rabupura police station of

Greater Noida. In the complaint, Azad alleged that the series depicted Uttar Pradesh and its police in a poor light. The complaint further alleged that the series had deliberately denigrated Hindu gods and goddesses. The FIR further alleged that the PMwas depicted going against democratic norms and deliberate comments were used to disturb caste and communal amity. The makers of the series wanted to disturb the peace and tranquillity with the aim of making money, the complainant alleged.