Karnataka High Court restrains Netflix from streaming first episode of web series 'Crime Stories: India Detectives'

The Karnataka High Court on Friday directed Over-the-top (OTT) platform, Netflix to block the streaming of the first episode of web series Crime Stories: India Detectives.

. Justice BM Shyam Prasad ordered that the pilot episode titled " A Murdered Mother " should not be streamed since it could cause harassment and prejudice to the petitioner, a murder accused.

"The Episode No.1 of the series "Crime Stories. India Detective" and titled "A Murdered Mother" is on the OTT platform and is available for viewing to all the registered users. The content being available for viewing, the petitioner would be put to harassment and prejudice. In consideration of these submissions, the respondents, subject to further orders, are called upon to block streaming, broadcasting, telecasting or otherwise making available the content of the Episode No.1 of the Series 1 of the documentary "Crime Stories. India Detective" titled "A Murdered Mother" on Netflix," the order said.

. The Court was hearing a petition moved by one Sridhar Rao, a 28-year-old resident of Bengaluru, a co-accused in the murder of 54-year-old Nirmala Chandrashekar. Amrutha Chandrashekar, the daughter of the deceased lady, is the other accused in the case.

. It was alleged that Amrutha had killed her mother and attempted to kill her brother, and later fled to Andaman and Nicobar with the petitioner.

It was the petitioner's case that the first episode in the series contained the visuals of the investigation by the police in the first information report (FIR) against himself and Amrutha.

“The Netflix is streaming the recording of the petitioner, made by Minnow Films Ltd, on his custodial interrogations, custodial interview, and the derogatory statement made by police during the investigation in a manner which is against the law,” the petition said.

. The petitioner contended that the contents of the first episode would interfere with the petitioner's defence as it contains interview recorded during the investigation and video recording of a purported confession.

The petitioner's right to a free and fair trial would be severely prejudiced if the episode it streamed, it was submitted.

This apart, it was also contended that the episode violates the petitioner's privacy and the content, without any justification, exposes the petitioner to ridicule and harassment by the public.

On these grounds, the petitioner filed a suit against the respondents along with an application for temporary injunction.

The civil court had not granted interim injunction whereupon the petitioner moved the High Court.

. "The civil Court has only issued suit summons and emergent noticed on I.A. without considering that the delay in granting interim order would defeat the very purpose of the application as also the suit, and prejudice the petitioner's interest without any remedy," the High Court said while granting stay.

. It also issued notice to Netflix and the producer Minnow Films while posting the case for further hearing on October 21.

Karnataka High Court restrains Netflix from streaming first episode of web series 'Crime Stories: India Detectives'

Rintu Mariam Biju

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