Delhi High Court Stays Proceedings Against Sony SAB TV Owner Over Derogatory Remark On Dhobi Community In ‘Pushpa Impossible’ Show

The Delhi High Court today stayed proceedings against Culver Max Entertainment, a production house which owns and manages Sony SAB TV channel, in an FIR for alleged use of “casteist and derogatory” remark on Dhobi community in one of the episodes of “Pushpa Impossible” show.

Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar stayed the proceedings against the production house till January 15, when two other connected matters filed by co-accused are coming up for hearing.

The FIR was registered under Section 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act ("SC & ST Act") on the directions of the court in March after a complaint was filed against use of a remark “Do Kodi ka Dhobi” in the show.

The court issued notice on Culver Max's plea challenging a Trial Court order summoning the production house and 6 other accused persons, being the director, producer, writers and actor of the show for December 02.

“Issue notice. It is submitted by the senior counsel [for the petitioner] that two connected matters in the same FIR are coming up for hearing on January 15. Till then, the proceedings against the present petitioner are stayed,” Justice Bhatnagar said.

Senior Advocate N Hariharan appearing for Culver Max submitted that no offence was made out in the matter. He further submitted that Section 3(1)(u) of SC & ST Act cannot be made out against a company which is an artificial person.

It was also contended that under the provision in question, a juristic person cannot be assigned caste, creed or a character.

The court directed Delhi Police’s counsel to file a status report and listed the case for hearing next on January 15, 2024.

Notably, the production house had challenged the summoning order passed by city’s Patiala House Courts on October 19. The Trial Court was of the view that there was sufficient material on record to proceed further in the matter. Thus, it took cognizance of the offence punishable under Section 3(1)(u) of SC & ST Act.

Case Title: CULVER MAX ENTERTAINMENT PRIVATE LIMITED v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR., CRL.M.C. 8742/2023

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