After staying release on Modi Biopic, ECI now bans streaming of web series based on life of PM Modi

April 20: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday directed the producers (Eros Now) of a web series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately stop its online screening and remove all connected contents till further orders.

The EC orders today comes after the Congress party on April 13 moved the EC against the web series stating that it is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. In its complaint, the Congress said that the web series is a tool to “influence the viewers and voters” in the Lok Sabha polls. In its direction, the poll panel cited its 10 April order banning a biopic on Modi to place a similar embargo on the web series titled Modi: Journey of a Common Man.

“On viewing the trailer of the web series, it is apparent that the said web series showcases the different phases of life of PM Shri Narendra Modi, from childhood to becoming a national leader,” the EC said. “That any biopic material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub-serving the purposes of any political entity or any individual connected to it… which has the potential to disturb the level playing field during the elections, should not be displayed…” the order said.

While episodes of the web series were already aired on April 3 before the first phase of polling, the remaining five episodes have been ordered to be removed from Eros Now’s digital platform. The Election Commission had stopped the release of the biopic “PM Narendra Modi“, starring Vivek Oberoi. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna had said it will consider the Election Commission’s report and hear the matter on 22 April.