Indian news agency ANI has sued Netflix and the producers of the Indian series over the hijacking incident and demanded the removal of four episodes for allegedly using ANI content, an ANI lawyer told Reuters on Monday.
The series, titled IC-814: Kandahar Hijack, is a fictionalized version of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in Kathmandu and has been courting controversy since its release last month.
Social media users and members of the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the kidnapper was falsely portrayed as a Hindu with a Hindu name, despite being a Muslim.
Last week, Netflix added a new disclaimer to the six-part program after its officials were summoned by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It also said that the codenames used in the series reflect the names used during the actual event.
“They are using ANI’s copyrighted stock images without permission and are also using (ANI’s) trademarks,” said Siddhanth Kumar, general counsel, ANI.
“Our trademark and brand name has been damaged because the show has faced so much criticism,” Kumar said
He said the Delhi High Court had agreed to hear the case and asked Netflix for a response.
Netflix, which owns a minority stake in ANI, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
India blames Pakistan and Pakistan-based militants for a December 1999 plane hijacking that New Delhi says involved three of the group’s leaders, including Masood Azhar.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
