Hyderabad-based firm sues Ekta Kapoor for alleged plagiarism

Hyderabad-based Sanober Baig, managing director of Prime Media is suing Ektaa Kapoor for plagiarism over her new reality show 'Lock Upp'. Police have registered a case against ALTBalaji, MX Player, and Endemol Shine.

In February, Baig accused Lock Upp's producer Abhishek Rege of stealing his idea for a project titled 'Jail'. Now, he approached the Supreme Court demanding the show to be stopped and was directed to approach a lower court.

The Hyderabad civil court ordered the reality show be stopped from April 29. The show is closing in on its finale and after the court order, it has been moved from May 7 to May 9.

Lock Upp is a reality competition series hosted by Kangana Ranaut, premiering on ALTBalaji (founded by Ekta Kapoor) and MX Player from February 27, 2022. On 2 March, it was reported that the show had 15 million views within two days of its release. On 19 March, the show crossed 100 million views and became one of the most-watched reality shows on OTT platforms. On 16 April, the show garnered 300 million views.

Baig stated that he was shocked the show was still being streamed after his accusations even after the court order. "I had to knock on the doors of the police and Hyderabad police understood the situation". The city police registered an FIR under sections 420, 406, and 469 of the IPC after verifying the situation. He added that he hopes for a fair trial and prosecution. Hyderabad police are reaching Mumbai for further investigation on May 6.

He added that Ekta Kapoor has multiple FIRs against her for objectionable content and indecent representation of the families of the Indian Armed Forces. "I am appalled that her organisation is misusing the law".

Speaking on the law being misused by the accomplished, Baig said there cannot be two sets of laws - one for the powerful and one for the ordinary citizens. "The bigger a person is, the more responsibility they have to maintain the law and order".