The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed police notices issued to Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon, filmmaker Farah Khan, and comedian Bharti Singh in connection with allegations of hurting the sentiments of the Christian community.
Justice Manisha Batra issued the interim order while hearing petitions seeking to quash the FIRs registered against the celebrities for comments made during a 2019 episode of the web show Backbenchers, hosted by Khan and released by Flipkart. The case was at the final argument stage when police issued fresh notices under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), calling upon the accused to join the investigation.
“At this stage, learned counsel for the petitioner(s) submitted that the respondents have started issuing notices under Section 35 of BNS calling upon them to join investigation. Till the next date of hearing, no such steps shall be taken by the respondents,” Justice Batra ordered on April 25.
The allegations stem from the claim that the trio disrespected the word “Hallelujah” by allegedly comparing it to a vulgar term during the episode aired on November 30, 2019. However, the defence has maintained that there was no intent to hurt religious sentiments, emphasizing that criminal liability under such offences requires deliberate and malicious intent.
The High Court had earlier, in 2022, restrained any coercive action against Tandon, Khan, and Singh. The interim protection has now been extended till July 14, the next date of hearing.
The celebrities are represented by a team comprising Advocates Abhinav Sood, Jay K Bhaardawaj, Anmol Gupta, Mehndi Singhal, Sayyam Garg, and Arsh Bir Bhatti. Senior Advocate Akshay Bhan, along with Advocates Ishan Kshetarpal and Harsh Gupta, represents Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy. Advocate Himani Arora appeared for the State of Punjab, while Advocate Gaurav Garg Dhuriwala represented the complainant.
