Why Was Monika Shergill Summoned? Know the Controversy Surrounding Netflix’s ‘IC 814’ Series

The latest series of Netflix is IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The story of the series revisits the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814. This series has lightened a fierce debate. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting recently summoned content head of Netflix. His name is Monika Shergill. This step came after the large wave of criticism on social media. Viewers have accused the show of allegedly changing the names of the hijackers to “Bhola” and “Shankar,” leading to widespread controversy.

The five hijackers in the series are referred to as Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar—names that are consistent with details from investigation reports and the book Flight into Fear: The Captain’s Story by Srinjoy Chowdhury and Captain Devi Sharan. However, some media outlets have labeled this portrayal as insensitive, arguing that it misrepresents historical events. 

The controversy has drawn significant attention, with questions raised about the balance between creative storytelling and historical accuracy in portraying sensitive events.