9 film channels go off air

Nine major TV film channels went off air today in Mumbai after police stopped their telecast for allegedly showing adult movies in contravention of a Bombay High Court order, police said.

The Social Service Branch of Mumbai police sealed the decoders of these channels at the control rooms of several major cable operators in the city. DCP Sanjay Aparanti of the Social Service Branch said, "These channels were showing adult movies despite an order of the High Court against it. The channels have been put off air and their decoders sealed."

He identified the channels as Star Movies, Star One, Star Gold, HBO, Zee Cinema, AXN, Set Max, Sahara One and Sahara Filmy.

The decision to stop the telecast of these channels was taken after scrutinising the list of films shown by the TV channels in the past few months and checking the category given to each film by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC).

The Bombay High Court had last week taken the director general of police to task for not taking action against cable operators violating the court's earlier order banning adult movies on TV.

Hearing a petition filed by social activist Pratibha Nathani, the High Court, in December 2005, had ordered the police to take action against cable operators and cable service providers who telecast movies with 'A' or 'U/A' certificate.