The Top Court of India has extended the interim protection granted to the directors and entire castes of the web series “College Romance” from arrest and detention under the FIR filed against them on charges of alleged obscenity.

A division bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli passed the order on the appeals filed by the directors Simarpreet Singh, Apoorv Singh Karki and Parijat Jos of the show against a Delhi High Court judgment in March 2023, that had upheld the order of the trial court, directing the registration of FIR in connection with the web series.

While ordering the registration of FIR, the division bench had ruled that the language used in the series was obscene, profane and vulgar, and will deprave and corrupt the minds of young people.

The SC bench protected the appellants from arrest and detention in the FIR filed against them.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the actors, submitted that "All we are seeking is protection. These people are not criminals. To have police chasing them will create fear. Let the police be kept away. These are young people who have come together and created a project. If they have crossed the line, the content can be pulled down, but let the police be kept out."

Senior Advocate KV Viswanathan, appearing for the OTT channel, said, "Prima facie there is no offence. But if there is any objection with the content, that can always be pulled down."

To this, the bench said, "We have to see as to what extent of criminal proceedings we can, because High court has issued other directions also."

In a detailed order, the high court held that the show’s director and actors are liable to face action under Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

The case has been slated for further hearing in the second week of July.