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Sacred Games: Actors not liable for dialogues, says Delhi High Court; Rahul hailed for stand

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Sacred Games: Actors not liable for dialogues, says Delhi High Court; Rahul hailed for stand

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Actors cannot be held liable for the dialogues they deliver, said the Delhi High Court on Monday, July 16, while hearing a plea filed against Netflix and its web series Sacred Games for allegedly defaming former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in an episode.

Meanwhile Rajiv Gandhi’s son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who said that he believed freedom of expression should not be policed, earned praise from co-director Anurag Kashyap and actor Swara Bhasker.

Hearing the case, the Delhi High Court asked whether an actor can be held liable for the dialogues and does it amount to defamation. The court was hearing a plea filed by Nikhil Bhalla seeking directions for the removal of offensive scenes and derogatory remarks about former PM Rajiv Gandhi and his family in the serial Sacred Games aired by Netflix.

“Why have you made the actor as a party to the case? Can we stop a viewpoint from being aired? Should we stall such a viewpoint from being aired? Shouldn’t the viewer make up his own point?” the high court bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar asked.

The lawyers appearing for Netflix told the bench that all eight episodes have already been aired and more aren’t planned as of now.

The bench asked the petitioner: “It is already on air. What do we stop?”

Petitioner submitted that there are two scenes where English translation has a different derogatory word. They have modified some but need to take out these scenes. It is a scene against a former PM for now, what happens next? Would these be the standards that are aired?

Bench questioned petitioner, can the court hear an issue of defamation in a PIL? This will have larger implication.

However, bench gave sometime to the petitioner to justify its locus in the petition while adjourning the hearing to Thursday, July 19.

Sacred Games is in the eye of storm for allegedly portraying Gandhi family in bad light. Emergency, Shah Bano moves by the Congress party have been featured in the series, inviting condemnation from some Congress leaders.

The series is based on Vikram Chandra’s 2006 thriller novel of the same name and is produced by Anil Ambani-led Reliance Entertainment’s Phantom Films joint venture. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Saif Ali Khan and Radhika Apte are in the lead roles.

After the plea was filed in the Delhi High Court seeking removal of certain scenes from “Sacred Games”, claiming that some of its content was derogatory to Rajiv Gandhi – and a police complaint filed by a Congress activist in Kolkata against the producers of the web series and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui over the issue – Rahul Gandhi tweeted on July 14 (Saturday): “BJP/RSS believe the freedom of expression must be policed & controlled. I believe this freedom is a fundamental democratic right.

My father lived and died in the service of India. The views of a character on a fictional web series can never change that.#SacredGames”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRUJKUCUyRlJTUyUyMGJlbGlldmUlMjB0aGUlMjBmcmVlZG9tJTIwb2YlMjBleHByZXNzaW9uJTIwbXVzdCUyMGJlJTIwcG9saWNlZCUyMCUyNmFtcCUzQiUyMGNvbnRyb2xsZWQuJTIwSSUyMGJlbGlldmUlMjB0aGlzJTIwZnJlZWRvbSUyMGlzJTIwYSUyMGZ1bmRhbWVudGFsJTIwZGVtb2NyYXRpYyUyMHJpZ2h0LiUzQ2JyJTNFJTNDYnIlM0VNeSUyMGZhdGhlciUyMGxpdmVkJTIwYW5kJTIwZGllZCUyMGluJTIwdGhlJTIwc2VydmljZSUyMG9mJTIwSW5kaWEuJTIwVGhlJTIwdmlld3MlMjBvZiUyMGElMjBjaGFyYWN0ZXIlMjBvbiUyMGElMjBmaWN0aW9uYWwlMjB3ZWIlMjBzZXJpZXMlMjBjYW4lMjBuZXZlciUyMGNoYW5nZSUyMHRoYXQuJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGaGFzaHRhZyUyRlNhY3JlZEdhbWVzJTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyNmFtcCUzQnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFJTIzU2FjcmVkR2FtZXMlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGcCUzRSUyNm1kYXNoJTNCJTIwUmFodWwlMjBHYW5kaGklMjAlMjglNDBSYWh1bEdhbmRoaSUyOSUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRlJhaHVsR2FuZGhpJTJGc3RhdHVzJTJGMTAxODEyMzIwMzcyODgyMjI3MiUzRnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFSnVseSUyMDE0JTJDJTIwMjAxOCUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZibG9ja3F1b3RlJTNFJTBBJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwYXN5bmMlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnBsYXRmb3JtLnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGd2lkZ2V0cy5qcyUyMiUyMGNoYXJzZXQlM0QlMjJ1dGYtOCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRnNjcmlwdCUzRSUwQQ==[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]”That’s a yay,” said Mr Kashyap quoting Rahul Gandhi’s tweet.

Swara Bhasker also supported Rahul Gandhi, saying it is “gracious” how Rahul Gandhi is able to keep personal and national interests aside.

“It is impressive that a mainstream politician like @RahulGandhi is taking this clear and progressive stand on freedom of expression and censorship. Also it’s gracious and mature that he is able to set aside the personal for the larger goal of democratic rights. #CreditWhereDue,” Swara tweeted.

But director Madhur Bhandarkar reacted to the tweet too, posting a video, which he claimed was “a compilation of the harrowing experience” he faced around the release of his film ‘Indu Sarkar’ that had been seen to be critical of Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi – Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother.

Bhandarkar alleged Congress party workers “tried to police & control my FOE (freedom of expression)”.

Amit Malviya, head of BJP’s IT cell replied to Madhur Bhandarkar’s tweet, saying Rahul Gandhi “is no champion of free speech”. In the tweet, he questioned the commitment to the freedom of expression of generations of Gandhi family members “from Nehru to Indira then Rajiv and most recently Sonia”, and ended by raking up unrelated topic to say Rajiv Gandhi’s “legacy of Bofors & Shah Bano are well known to the people of India”.

The complaints against Sacred Games serial have as of now, not been withdrawn yet, despite Rahul Gandhi’s tweet.

The first season of the show, comprising eight episodes, was released on July 6 and is available in 190 countries in four language.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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India News

Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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India News

Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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