What is The POCSO Case Against Ekta And Shobha Kapoor For ALT Balaji Web Series Gandi Baat?

What is The POCSO Case?: The Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was passed to take legal action on sexual offences against children. Ekta Kapoor's owned digital streaming platform Alt Balaji has run into legal trouble for showing inappropriate scenes involving minor girls. The Mumbai Police is most likely to issue a notice to the mother-daughter duo in the case. They are also looking for the girls in the scene to record their statements. Know more about what the POCSO case is. 

Why is Ekta Kapoor booked under the POCSO Act? 

The POCSO Act looks to provide strict punishments for all crimes against all those below 18 years of age. The POCSO Bill also aims at making offences against children ‘gender neutral’. All offences related to sexual assault, sexual harassment and child pornography cases against minors would come under the POCSO Act.
 

In the ALT Balaji web series - Gandi Baat, a particular episode caught user attention and landed Ekta Kapoor in legal trouble. The complainant has alleged that the series which streamed between February 2021 and April 2021, shows obscene scenes of minor girls. Although this controversial episode is not currently streaming on this app. 

What is the penalty Ekta Kapoor could face after being booked under POCSO?

Ekta Kapoor and her mother have been booked under sections 295-A of the IPC, IT Act and sections 13 and 15 of the POCSO Act. The IPC section 295A punishes those who deliberately and maliciously insult or attempt to insult the religious beliefs or religion of a class of citizens in India. If found guilty, Ekta could be imprisoned for up to three years or a fine, or both. 
 

Section 13 of the POCSO ACT refers to the use of a minor in any form of media (including programme or advertisement telecast by television channels or the internet or any other electronic form or printed form, whether or not such programme or advertisement is intended for personal use or for distribution), for the purposes of sexual gratification. As per the Indian code, an accused under the POCSO Act Sector 13 can be sentenced to imprisonment of five years and a fine.  

Ekta Kapoor is also likely to be charged under section 15 of the POCSO Act. The section states that “any person, who stores or possesses” 'child pornography' and “fails to delete or destroy or report” is liable to punishment. The punishment for the same is a fine of up to five thousand rupees, and on subsequent offence, upto ten thousand rupees.