Balaji Telefilms in Trouble: Ekta Kapoor Booked Under POCSO in 'Gandi Baat' Case

Balaji Telefilms Limited clarified to the stock exchanges on Tuesday that it is cooperating with the Mumbai Police regarding a case filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) against Producer Ekta Kapoor and her mother, Shobha Kapoor. The case concerns alleged inappropriate scenes involving minors in an episode of ALT Balaji's web series Gandi Baat.

The issue pertains to season 6 of Gandi Baat on the OTT platform Alt Balaji.

Mumbai Police have registered a case against Balaji Telefilms, Ekta Kapoor, and Shobha Kapoor under sections 295-A of the IPC, the IT Act, and sections 13 and 15 of the POCSO Act. The complaint alleges that the series, which streamed on Alt Balaji between February and April 2021, featured inappropriate scenes involving minors. However, this controversial episode is no longer available on the platform.

ALT Balaji shared their statement with our publication, which reads: “With reference to various media reports regarding the web series Gandi Baat, ALT Digital Media Entertainment Ltd. hereby clarifies that it is fully compliant with all applicable laws, including the POCSO Act, and any references to the engagement of minors by the company are entirely incorrect.

The company has complete faith in the judiciary and is fully cooperating with the authorities in the investigation. Since the matter is sub judice, the company refrains from commenting in detail.

It is further clarified that Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor are not involved in the day-to-day operations of the company, which are managed by separate teams, including its content strategy.