BCCC pulls up Colors for Sunny Leone's stay at Bigg Boss

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Although Colors has assured the self-regulatory industry body Broadcasting Contents Complaints Council (BCCC) that the contract of Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone will be terminated if she does not stop promotion of the channel or Bigg Boss 5 on her website, the matter is far from over.

A BCCC source told indiantelevision.com that the reply of the channel would be placed before the chairperson of BCCC, Justice KL Shah, and other members to take a final view. The source did admit, however, that there was no vulgarity in the daily reality show which is to be wind up in about two weeks.

Earlier, a Colors spokesperson clarified the position following the self-regulatory body asking the channel to take Leone out of the series, which she had entered on 21 November.

The channel said that Sunny Leone had been asked in the past to not use Colors or Bigg Boss Season 5 in any form.And now we have decided to write letter to her informing that in case reference to Bigg Boss Season 5 are not removed from her website, we shall immediately terminate her contract and evict her from Bigg Boss House," it said.

The spokesperson said the channel had clarified its position to the BCCC, which "agreed with our position that content on the show is in compliance with self-regulatory guidelines."

"BCCC also appreciated that there is no evidence to suggest that there is any link between Colors and cross promotion of Bigg Boss Season 5 on Sunny Leone?s sites," Colors said.

However, the spokesperson added that "BCCC requested us to use our commercial endeavours to persuade Sunny Leone to not use Bigg Boss Season 5 or Colors on her websites, and we assured BCCC of our efforts on the same".

The BCCC set up by the Indian Broadcasters Foundation (IBF) had reacted after considering 19 complaints, asking Colors TV to stop by December 26 all cross promotion of Leone?s pornographic sites and videos - something she is reported to have done since she appeared on the show.

hile anyone was free to appear on any show, the regulator said no one could promote their business through it, particularly when it is illegal under Indian law.

National Commission for Minorities Chairman Wajahat Habibullah who represented the body on the BCCC said, "We all agreed that Sunny Leone has been using Bigg Boss on Colors to promote pornography which is classified as criminal activity in India. Therefore, she can not be allowed to use our television to promote her business. Colors has agreed to comply and report back on steps taken."

The petition on which the Council gave its ruling detailed how Leone?s adult website stated that she is on Bigg Boss and lures people to "see why the world is obsessed with her?"

Leone?s pornographic product is linked to twitter where an entire team of dummy tweeters (on her behalf) create consistent engagement and product sales of her videos even while she is on Bigg Boss. She authors a daily blog where video postings, procured from Bigg Boss 5 producers are being openly cross promoted. She has posted on her Twitter ID - which has 86,000 followers - that mobile applications of her hard porn products are available via email and has given an address.