In an escalating battle against objectionable content on streaming platforms, the Save Culture Save Bharat Foundation has been attempting to lodge complaints against Alt Balaji, a controversial OTT platform. The foundation, led by its founder Uday Mahurkar, has accused the platform of portraying relationships in an extremely degrading and inappropriate manner. However, despite multiple attempts, their efforts to register a case through Delhi’s Cyber Dost portal have been repeatedly denied.
Mahurkar took to social media to express his deep frustration. On the platform X (formerly Twitter), he lashed out at the authorities for their inaction. In a strongly worded post, Mahurkar condemned the explicit content being streamed by Alt Balaji, writing, “What do you think of an OTT film by @ALTT that shows a youth having sex with his grandmother, stepmother, Bhabhi, and cousin sister with explicit scenes? Or another such film based on incestuous relationships. Horrendous.”
What do you think of an OTT film by @ALTT that shows a youth having S€x with his grandmother, stepmother, Bhabhi & cousin sister with explicit scenes. Or another such film based on incentous relationship. Horrendous. But @DelhiPolice doesn’t think so. It has refused to file FIR… pic.twitter.com/5DziWtBcFD
— Uday Mahurkar (@UdayMahurkar) October 18, 2024
He continued, accusing the Delhi Police of turning a blind eye to the issue, despite what he described as “clinching evidence” of pornographic content. “Nation will have to decide whether revenue coming from such evil content creators is more important or the culture & character of the nation,” Mahurkar concluded in his post.
Mahurkar also shared the formal complaint submitted by his foundation to the Cyber Dost portal, calling for immediate legal action against the streaming platform. The complaint detailed a list of explicit and inappropriate content allegedly being showcased by Alt Balaji. It cited instances of pornographic material, including scenes of sexual activity between men and women, orgies, and incestuous relationships. Among the specific accusations were claims of explicit scenes involving a male character engaging in sexual acts with a school student, his daughter-in-law, and his sister-in-law, as well as graphic depictions of oral sex and masturbation.
The complaint went on to argue that such content violates multiple Indian laws, including Section 11 (iii) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, sections 294, 295, and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and sections 67, 67A, and 67B of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Additionally, it cited violations of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The foundation urged authorities to register a case under the relevant legal provisions and take swift action against the platform.
This is not the first time Alt Balaji, owned by media mogul Ekta Kapoor, has come under fire for promoting explicit and controversial content. Critics have long accused the platform of normalising inappropriate relationships and tarnishing the cultural fabric of Indian society.
Social media handles like Gems of Bollywood, which has a significant following, have frequently called out the OTT platform for its objectionable content. The handle once highlighted how Alt Balaji shows “a man sleeping with his grandmother, stepmother, sister-in-law & cousin sister,” labelling it as part of a wider agenda to promote incest.
This is a pandemic. Streaming services are full of porn that specifically targets minors and promotes incest.
While one cannot sell porn in schools, in mobile, children take online classes on the same device that serves porn without verification!
Last month Ekta Kapoor’s Alt… pic.twitter.com/QAhjfMRx78
— Gems of Bollywood बॉलीवुड के रत्न (@GemsOfBollywood) May 20, 2024
In another explosive post, Gems of Bollywood slammed Alt Balaji for targeting minors with unverified access to pornographic content. “While one cannot sell porn in schools, children take online classes on the same device that serves porn without verification,” the post read, underscoring concerns about the ease with which such content reaches vulnerable audiences.
By awarding @EktaaRKapoor, the @iemmys seems to be happy to make mockery of its ethics code. Or the American private group wants to promote low-quality incestuous filth in rest of the world.
Alt Balaji of Ekta shows a man sleeping with his grandmother, stepmother, sister in law… https://t.co/Uh8gsKhAay
— Gems of Bollywood बॉलीवुड के रत्न (@GemsOfBollywood) November 23, 2023
In the past, Ekta Kapoor’s platform was reportedly forced to remove one such show after public pressure from the Save Culture Save Bharat foundation, which described the program as “incest-promoting porn.” Despite initially defending the show as promoting “women empowerment,” Alt Balaji eventually relented after legal intervention.
Mahurkar and his supporters argue that the issue is far from resolved. “There is countless such content,” Mahurkar stated, adding that perverted content creators are often given “VVIP treatment” and marketed as ambassadors of India’s soft power. He warned that such content not only undermines Indian culture but also encourages sexual crimes, drawing a direct connection between streaming platforms and the rise in daily incidents of rape.
The controversy surrounding Alt Balaji has also reached the courts. The Supreme Court of India recently criticised Ekta Kapoor for what it deemed objectionable content on the platform. “Such OTT and horrible creativity are the biggest threat to India’s pristine culture & youth,” read one of the critical remarks. Mahurkar and his foundation are now calling for stronger regulatory measures against what they see as the unchecked spread of perversion through streaming platforms.
As the nation grapples with the cultural and moral implications of content on digital platforms, the debate over the role of OTT services like Alt Balaji continues to intensify. For Mahurkar, the fight is about more than just legal technicalities—it’s about the preservation of Indian culture and the protection of future generations.
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