A UP Police team which reached at the doorstep of actor/director Farhan Akhtar in Mumbai to investigate a case related to web series ‘Mirzapur’ has been stalled as Mumbai Police refused to give necessary permissions.
The three-member team from Kotwali Dehat police station was told to leave Farhan Akhtar’s premises on Thursday saying it didn’t have the required permissions.
The UP Police members said that whenever they visited the Crime Branch office in Andheri, the nodal officer (DCP) would not be available. It went to Khar police station thereafter and visited the residence of actor Farhan Akhtar in Khar West, accompanied by a Mumbai Police constable.
Some personnel of the Mumbai Police then reached Farhan’ house and directed the UP Police to leave. It was told to return only when the necessary permissions had been given.
The UP Police team is in Mumbai to carry out investigation in an FIR filed against ‘Mirzapur’ series. Arvind Chaturvedi (image below), a senior television journalist, and belonging to Mirzapur itself, has lodged the complaint alleging that the web series had “hurt his religious sentiments”.
Chaturvedi’s contention was that the series had abusive content, promoted enmity in the society and presented Mirzapur district in poor light.
Chaturvedi, incidentally, is the author of the biography of prime minister Narendra Modi, The Real Modi which has become a multilingual bestseller.
FIR has been registered against Farhan Akhtar, Bhaumik Gondaliya and Ritesh Sidhwani, all associated with the series. They have been booked under IPC sections 295A (deliberate attempt to outrage religious sentiments), 504 (insult with intention to breach peace), 505 and some provisions of IT Act.
It’s been alleged that the series portrayed Mirzapur district as a “den of terror and illegal activities.” Also the portrayal of women in the series is allegedly distasteful.
