Ban on Obscene OTT Content: Legal Action Taken Against Prominent Platforms and Producers
New Delhi – A collective outcry against the alleged explicit content on OTT platforms has led to legal action against major streaming companies and producers in India. During a recent press briefing, Uday Mahurkar, along with Sanjeev Newar of Gems of Bollywood and advocate Vineet Jindal, announced a series of court cases against Netflix India, XCorp India, and Jeetendra, Shobha, and Ekta Kapoor of ALTT for allegedly promoting obscene content in violation of Indian laws, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.
Mahurkar stated, “Bollywood is the biggest supporter of porn, promoting it under the guise of freedom of speech and expression. This is damaging our culture.” He, alongside others, condemned Bollywood’s role in encouraging such content, calling for stringent regulation.
The legal move came after Delhi Police declined to file an FIR despite detailed evidence provided. This refusal contrasts with action taken by Mumbai Police, who registered an FIR against Ekta and Shobha Kapoor on similar grounds.
Organizations like SCSB Foundation and Gems of Bollywood are pushing for the Central Government to take strict measures, including enacting a complete ban on pornography to protect India from a cultural crisis. The group proposed a National Content Control Authority and an Ethics Code Law to regulate content across platforms, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison for violators. They demand that such offenses be labeled as anti-national and destructive to society.
The coalition questions whether India’s aspirations for superpower status by 2047 can coexist with cultural integrity, emphasizing the urgency of protecting the nation’s values against what they describe as a “looming cultural bankruptcy.” The differing actions by Delhi and Mumbai Police add urgency to the debate, putting Delhi Police’s approach under serious public scrutiny.