Robert D. Thompson 
Photo credit: IANS
IANSLive
New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear a plea asking Alt Balaji and his agents to refrain from exposing and publishing the reality show “Lock Upp” on OTT and the social media platforms.
The plea challenged an order from the Telangana High Court, which overturned the interim injunction granted by the Magistrate’s Court against the broadcast and publication of the reality show, hosted by Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut.
A bench of judges MR Shah and BV Nagarathna noted that the show had already been televised and granted the petitioner freedom to apply to the trial court for an expeditious hearing of his application for an interim injunction.
As the petitioner claimed that they had made up the story of ‘The Jail’ and later prepared a script with 22 celebrities, the high court said the high court had looked into everything in detail and would not couldn’t narrow down the show at this point.
Telling the petitioner’s attorney that the first episode has already arrived, the bench said, “This motion is virtually unsuccessful.”
Lead Counsel CS Vaidyanathan, representing petitioner, Prime Media, requested leave from the bench to withdraw the motion and submit a request for an early hearing of the injunction application in the trial court.
“It will be open to the petitioner to move the trial court to dispose of the plea expeditiously,” the bench said. The petition was dismissed as withdrawn.
The trial court on February 23 had granted the interim injunction granted regarding the broadcast, exhibition and publication of the series. However, the High Court overturned this order. Pride Media asked the higher court to challenge the February 26 high court order.
The high court had noted that Alt Balaji had already produced the show and had also spent on marketing the show, noting that the balance of amenities was in their favor.
The petitioner said he registered the story with the Screen Writers Association but due to Covid and lockdown restrictions they were unable to produce the show. And, “Lock Upp” began airing, as the petitioner was in the process of mobilizing the show’s production.
–IANS
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Updated: April 13, 2022
