A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was lodged with the Delhi High Court on Monday, challenging the depiction of historical events in the Netflix series ‘IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack.’ The petitioner, Surjit Singh Yadav, president of Hindu Sena and a local farmer, claims the series distorts facts by misrepresenting the real identities of the hijackers.
The controversial series, which dramatizes the 1999 hijack of an Indian Airlines flight by Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, allegedly portrays the hijackers with Hindu names like ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar,’ names traditionally associated with Lord Shiva. This portrayal has sparked outrage among the Hindu community, citing hurt sentiments and potential communal tensions.
The petition seeks urgent judicial intervention to revoke the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) license granted to the series and impose an immediate ban on its public screening. “Such misrepresentation not only skews the historical narrative but also fuels harmful stereotypes and misinformation,” stated Yadav’s petition.
In response to the growing controversy, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has summoned the content head of Netflix India for a detailed report on the series’ contentious portrayal. The meeting is set to take place on Tuesday.
