Controversy Over OTT Series 'IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack' Spurs Legal and Government Action

A PIL filed in the Delhi High Court seeks a ban on the OTT series 'IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack' for allegedly distorting the identities of the hijackers. It claims the series shows hijackers with Hindu names, hurting religious sentiments. The central government has summoned Netflix's content head to explain the issue.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was submitted to the Delhi High Court on Monday, demanding a ban on the OTT series 'IC-814: The Kandahar hijack' due to alleged factual distortions about the hijackers' identities.

The plea claims the mini-series inaccurately represents the real hijackers as carrying Hindu names such as 'Bhola' and 'Shankar'—names of Lord Shiva—which have offended the Hindu community.

The petitioner, Surjit Singh Yadav, a farmer and president of Hindu Sena, has appealed for the cancellation of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate and a ban on the public viewership of the series.

"The distortion of crucial facts about the hijackers' real identities not only misrepresents historical events but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misinformation," the petition states, urging court intervention to avert public misunderstanding and potential harm.

The central government has summoned Netflix's content head over the issue, highlighting that altering the facts of the nation's history should not be taken lightly.

Sources report that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has asked Netflix India's content head to explain the contentious portrayal in the series, which depicts the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by Pakistan-based terrorist group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

Released on August 29, the series is directed by Anubhav Sinha.

(With inputs from agencies.)