New Delhi: India's number one television quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati has landed itself on the hot seat.
The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practises Commission (MRTPC) to investigate an accusation of financial bungling by Star Plus.
The court wanted to know why celebrities appearing on show always managed to win huge sums of money as compared to other contestants.
"There is something mysterious as to how the actor and actresses who participate on behalf of some charities invariably get hefty prize money as compared to common public participants," a division Bench of Justices Vikramjit Sen and J P Singh was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.
The judges said this raised suspicions about whether questions on the show were being manipulated to help these persons.
"The Commission should implead computer experts or any other person or party who may have the know-how of finding out fraud, tricks or manipulation, if any, in the game," the Bench added.
The order came on a PIL filed by Anuj Kumar Bhati, who had sought a direction to the centre restraining Star India Private Ltd from airing the quiz show.
The petitioner also sought refund of the amount he allegedly incurred in his attempt to participate in the show.
The lawyers of Star are now working to challenge the order in the Supreme Court. They argue that the petition carried no legal ground and should be dismissed.
"We are surprsied at this part of the order. It was not even a part of the petition. We never argued on it and we dont know where it came from," says Star Network Advocate, Rajiv Nayar.
All parties pertaining to the show have been asked to appear before the MRTPC on May 8.
The order of the High Court is akin to the quiz show controversies in the US in the '50s. A movie, Quiz Show, starring Ralph Fiennes has also been made on the subject.
(With inputs from PTI)
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