Delhi HC refuses to grant stay on airing of Netflix's 'Hasmukh'; Relief for Vir Das

Delhi High Court has refused to grant interim stay on Vir Das-starrer web series 'Hasmukh' streaming on OTT platform Netflix.  plea was seeking an interim stay on web series claiming it maligned im of lawyers at large. 

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva has earlier reserved his order on an advocate's interim application.  application was filed in a suit seeking an injunction on broadcast of web series, which was opposed by Netflix on grounds that any such order would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Constitution.

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suit seeking an injunction on airing of series or deletion of some of its content, especially from its fourth episode, was moved by lawyer Ashutosh Dubey who said web series maligned im and reputation of advocates everywhere.  court had earlier issued tice to Netflix and show's producers and director seeking ir stand on suit.

Apart from seeking to stop airing of 'Hasmukh' on Netflix, plea also mentioned directions for web series producers, directors and writer to "tender unconditional apology online for maligning im of lawyers community, which includes judges too as y too had been lawyers at one point of time".

Read | Court dismisses application seeking to stop airing of webseries 'Hasmukh'

About 'Hasmukh'

In show, protagonist played by comedian-actor Vir Das, in each episode, murders professionals from various facets of life who have committed some wrong and n performs a stand-up act on such people, Netflix has contended. It has furr said that series' me makes it clear that intention was t to defame or malign any particular profession, but idea was to "spin a dark satirical comedy about evil in various walks of life and its impact on society".

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(with PTI inputs)