'Anything In Name Of Comedy?': Karnataka High Court Slams Zee, Comedy Khiladigalu Makers Over Inappropriate Depiction Of Hindu Gods

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (January 20) orally slammed Zee Enterprises and the Director of show 'Comedy Khiladigalu' for hurting religious sentiments by inappropriate depiction of Hindu Gods and Mythological Figures in a telecast.

Justice M Nagaprassana was dealing with the makers' plea to quash the complaint lodged by a viewer under Section 299 BNS, which pertains to offence of deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.

While the petitioner's counsel argued that the clip was part of a rehearsal and was not meant to hurt religious sentiments, the court at the outset orally remarked:

"Under the garb of free speech you can do anything you want? Such people don't deserve any indulgence who display gods, mythological figures as useless..."

As the petitioner's counsel said that rehearsal was depicted in a comical sense, the court pointed to the complaint and remarked:

"Have you seen complaint? What have you depicted Lord Krishna as? Can you read that? Is it readable? What have you depicted Draupadi as? In the name of comedy anything is happening in this country...Its unreadable...Why should such people be spared?". 

The show purportedly enacted a scene from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The makers' counsel argued that the complainant had submitted a zero FIR and in such cases preliminary inquiry is required, which was not done in this case.

"Police notices are being issued. We have participated in the investigation. Mandates are not followed. More in the context of preliminary inquiry being necessary or not...Lot of harassment for entire network...every comedy series turns into FIR...you don't even have a preliminary inquiry. The episode starts with this was only a rehearsal...the acting out of a rehearsal. Play starts with this. The skit was not to demean the characters..." the petitioner's counsel added.

The Court however cautioned the Petitioners, "Don't paint everything with same brush...Comedy can't be at cost of somebody else...Why did you circulate rehearsal? Rehearsal should have been rehearsal."

It also criticised the State Police for not following procedure properly, adding, "All cases are closed because of procedure not being followed by prosecution. Every case you leave a loophole".

Meanwhile the State's counsel argued that preliminary inquiry is not mandatory. However Petitioners contended that preliminary inquiry procedure has been laid down in Supreme Court's decision in Imran Pratapgarhi.

After hearing the matter for some time, the Court ordered, 

"The petitioners shall participate in investigation as matter is still at stage of crime. The prosecution in the garb of investigation shall not take any coercive steps till next date of hearing". 

Case title: ZEE ENTERPRISES AND ANOTHER v/s STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ANOTHER

CRL.P 17151/2025 A/W IA 1/25 FOR STAY