Court to hear Ekta Kapoor’s plea today

Our Correspondent

Phagwara, August 11

The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) will hear a petition filed by film and television serial producer Ekta Kapoor tomorrow (on Monday) in connection with a case registered against her and others by the Nakodar police in 2013. It is listed before a Bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Berry.

Film and TV producer Ekta Kapoor, her mother Shobha Kapoor, four members of her team involved in the production of serial Pavitra Rishta, and the Zee TV owner had been booked by the Nakodar police under Section 295-A of the IPC for hurting religious sentiments of the Valmiki community.

The case was registered after Rauni Gill, president of the Bhartiya Valmiki Sarav Dharam Samaj and resident of Shankar, complained to the police that the August 5, 2013 episode of the serial had made derogatory and objectionable references against Valmiki hurting the religious sentiments of the community.

Apart from Ekta Kapoor and her mother Meghna Amal, Sameer Kulkarni, Bhavna Thakkar and the actor who made these references had been arranged as accused in the case. The Zee TV owner, without naming him, had also been mentioned in the list of the accused.

The case was registered on August 16, 2013, and the petition was filed in 2014. The court had directed the state not to take coercive steps against the petitioners.

Was booked for hurting sentiments

Film and TV producer Ekta Kapoor, her mother Shobha Kapoor, four members of her team involved in the production of serial Pavitra Rishta, and the Zee TV owner had been booked by the Nakodar police for hurting religious sentiments of the Valmiki community.