On Friday, the Karnataka High Court instructed Netflix to block the streaming of the first episode of their documentary series titled Crime Stories: India Detectives. Based on a true crime incident, the episode titled A Murdered Mother highlighted Bengaluru Police's probe into the murder of a woman by her own daughter in February 2020. One of the co-accused in the case had filed a petition against the episode in the court. Justice BM Shyam Prasad, in a court order, instructed that the pilot episode should not be streamed on Netflix as it could cause harassment and prejudice to the murder accused as well as the petitioner.
In the order, the court said, "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 episode has now been made unavailable.
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The petitioner was Sridhar Rao, a 28 years old resident of Bengaluru, who was accused of helping Amrutha Chandrashekar in murdering her 54-year-old mother Nirmala Chandrashekar. Reportedly, Amrutha had murdered her mother and also attempted to kill her brother before fleeing to Andaman and Nicobar with Sridhar.
In the petition, it was mentioned, "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." Sridhar mentioned in the petition that the streaming of the episode would violate the right to a free and fair trial. It was stated that the episode also violates the petitioner's privacy and the content, without any justification, exposes the petitioner to ridicule and harassment by the public.
Reportedly, Amrutha is currently undergoing trial for multiple offences which includes offences punishable under Sections 302 (punishment for murder) and 307 (attempt to murder), 212 (harbouring offender), 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence) read with Section 34 (criminal act done by several persons with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
(Source: Bar And Bench)
