Films are allowed to go on air but operators wait for decoders

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Police social service branch granted permission to nine television channels to resume transmission on Saturday.

However, Mumbaikars may have to wait till Monday or even later to get a glimpse of their favourite movie channels. The police had confiscated the equipment of some cable operators in raids on August 21.

The channels affected were Zee Cinema, Star Movies, HBO, Filmy, Star Gold, AXN, Max, Star One and Sahara One.

Deputy Police Commissioner (social service branch) Sanjay Aparanti said that permission had been given on court orders that channels and cable operators would not show adult content. If the channels do not follow the high court’s orders the police will book them again, he said.

“Since the decoders  had been confiscated, transmission will take time to resume. We can’t say exactly when we’ll be back on air,” a Siticable spokesperson said.

Zee Network Senior Vice President Ashish Kaul said broadcasters were following the government directive in true spirit.

Pratibha Nathani, professor of political science at St Xavier’s College, had filed a PIL against the channels and cable operators.

She said it was the police’s responsibility to ensure the channels do not telecast adult content. “I am not aware of the film channels resuming transmission. It is for the police to take action if the channels air adult content despite the court’s orders,” Nathani added.

But the news brought cheer to viewers. “Finally someone has pumped sense into the brains of the moral police. The choice of what to view and what to reject should be with viewers,” said Vedant Tripathi of Andheri.

— With inputs from Divya Subramaniam