A Suitable Boy: Madhya Pradesh police book Netflix officials for 'encouraging love jihad'

An FIR was filed in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, November 23, against two Netflix executives for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. 

The controversy revolves around Mira Nair's web series A Suitable Boy, streaming now on Netflix, which showed kissing scenes in a temple. 

Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content (Netflix) and Ambika Khurana, Director, Public Policies (Netflix) were named in the FIR, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters. 

Rewa police booked them based on a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national secretary Gaurav Tiwari who demanded Netflix apologize and remove 'objectionable scenes,' which he believes 'encourages love jihad,' reported Indian media. 

Also Read- A Suitable Boy: A visual delight worthy of Mira Nair’s name

“I had asked officials to examine the series ‘A Suitable Boy’ being streamed on Netflix to check if kissing scenes in it were filmed in a temple and if it hurt religious sentiments. The examination prima facie found that these scenes are hurting the sentiments of a particular religion,” Mishra said in a public video statement.  

“On the basis of a complaint filed by Gaurav Tiwari, an FIR is being registered under section 295 (A) (malicious acts to outrage and insulting the religious feelings and beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in Rewa against Netflix officials- Monika Shergill and Ambika Khurana,” he added.

“Kissing scenes (filmed) inside a temple of Lord Maheshwar (a historic town located on the banks of Narmada in Madhya Pradesh) have hurt the sentiments of Hindus. This is also encouraging ‘love jihad’,” Tiwari had earlier complained. 

Director of Salaam Bombay, Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake, Mira Nair's six-part latest Netflix series A Suitable Boy was adapted from Vikram Seth's novel of the same name.