Case registered over porn content in books distributed at Comic Con

BENGALURU: A private firm allegedly distributed comic books containing explicit and adult content to students in the age group of 6 to 18 years at an annual event held in the city recently, following which Byappanahalli police have registered a case against the event organiser.



According to parents, the comic books were distributed during the 7th edition of Comic Con, the annual comic festival organized by the Comic Con India (CCI) in Bengaluru on November 17 and 18 at KTPO Convention Centre, Whitefield.

The children who got the tickets for the event on both the days were presented with a goodie bag which contained a comic book and a poster, along with a kit which contained a badge, a T-shirt and a notebook.

The parents though found the contents of Saga, an epic space opera/fantasy comic book series, written by Brian K Vaughan, an American author with illustrations by

Fiona Staples

, objectionable.

Saga series is extremely popular. Influenced by Star Wars, it is based on ideas Vaughan conceived both as a child and as a parent.

Communications Team, Comic Con India said, "We sincerely apologize for the inadvertent mix up that has occurred at Bengaluru Comic Con 2018. In almost seven years of our show, we have never had such a thing happen. We as an organisation neither support nor promote such content for underage audience."

Comic Con India did not reply to a question that sought to know what action had been initiated after the issue was brought to their notice.

Anamika Iyengar

, a resident of Indiranagar and mother of a 16-year-old girl who attended the event, told TOI, "On Thursday morning while cleaning the house, I just checked the kit my daughter had got and was shocked to see the images in the book which were downright adult and porn."

Anamika immediately emailed Comic Con India seeking an explanation. The email, a copy of which is with TOI, states that as part of the freebies distributed at the event were magazines/comic books that carried explicit adult content. Anamika wrote, "To put it plainly, the content was pornographic in nature!! I am a fortunate parent as my child had carelessly thrown the packets (along with these magazines) aside and left it to me to put away the bags. Imagine my horror when I casually flipped through the magazine and find adult, pornographic content in one of these magazines!!"

She wanted to know who will be held accountabile for the gross irresponsible behaviour.

Lawyer Debjani Aich, mother of an eight-year-old girl, took to Facebook, to highlight her anger over the development. Her post was shared over 150 times and drew lot of comments. She filed a complaint with police later. Though we requested police to book under the sections of POCSO, they have registered under IPC 293 (Sale of obscene objects to young person)," Debjani told TOI.

Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSPCR) chairperson (in-charge)

Mariswamy Y

said they would look into the matter.

Police said they will add POCSO provisions during the course of probe, if needed.