A complaint stands filed before Punjab Police against the platform Amazon Prime Video and producers of the web series ‘Paatal Lok’. G.S. Dhillon, advocate practising in Punjab and Haryana High Court filed the complaint. He contended that the web series allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh Community. Adding to it, the Episode 3 of the series Paatal Lok titled as ‘A History of Violence’ intended to create Communal Disharmony. Moreover, Dhillon alleges that the makers purposefully highlighted the clashes between the two castes. Thus, showing them in a bad light. This endorsed enmity in the state between the two castes.
Contentions by the Complainant
The show highlighted a Sikh boy as ‘Manjaar’ in the aforesaid Episode; the petitioner asserts it as both Criminal and Defamatory. Furthermore, the complainant accuses the makers of portraying Sikh Community as an oppressed community, especially women. The makers have glorified caste and religion-based violence. Notably, the Sikh Community is known for helping and protecting feeble people. However, such a portrayal has caused unrest within the community.
In the light of the highlighted facts, the complainant seeks registration of FIR. He prays for strict action against the makers of the web series i.e. renowned actress Ms. Anushka Sharma and her brother; under relevant provisions of Indian Penal Code, 1860, Information Technology Act, 2000, and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1986.
