‘Won’t interfere in TV serial case’

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to interfere with an order of the Punjab and Haryana high court refusing to quash an FIR filed by members of the Valmiki community against tele serial producer Rajan Shahi and Star Plus channel for telecasting a programme allegedly insulting the community.

The SC bench dismissed the special leave petition filed by the producer after hearing senior counsel Harin Raval and counsel V.K. Biju for the Valmiki community. The bench found no merits in the appeal and rejected the plea to quash the criminal proceedings.

According to Mr Shahi, he produced a programme called Bidaai that aired on Star Plus in August 2009. On a complaint alleging that the serial had defamed and insulted Valmiki Maharishi and the community, an FIR was registered against him and the channel.

The I&B ministry issued a showcause notice to the channel in September 2009. Even as the reply was sent, the producer and the channel filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana HC for quashing the FIR on the grounds that the programme did not in any manner defame or offend the Valmiki community.