'Big Boss' aired tonight, upset I and B ministry summons them

A Colors spokesman claimed that the channel had not received the I and B order during the day, possibly because it was a holiday. The I and B ministry has taken serious note of the "defiance" by the channel and have called them over for a meeting tomorrow, a senior official said.

When Colors started airing 'Big Boss', the ministry swung into action asking why it had not adhered to the directive issued earlier in the day. The channel claimed that it had not received the order, the ministry said.

The ministry had ordered Colors as also NDTV Imagine airing 'Big Boss' and 'Rakhi ka Insaaf' to shift their telecast timing between 11 pm and 5 am (for adult viewing) citing  abusive" language, "objectionable" content and divulging of "intimate" details on the shows.

The directive issued to Colors said, "it has been brought to the notice of this ministry that the content of the reality show 'Big Boss Season IV'....offends against good taste and decency".

The decisions were taken at an inter-ministerial meeting attended by additional secretaries from the Ministries of Home, Women and Child Development, External Affairs and I and B on Monday.

Numerous complaints have been made by viewers as well as the National Commission for Women and social activists who accused the two channels of showing explicit content.