Exclusive! Crime Stories India Detectives stories had consent of everyone involved: Claire Cahill

The series producer states that everyone involved was informed about the filming process and all consents sought before putting the series together. Yet, the Karnataka HC has blocked streaming of one of the stories now.

Claire Cahill on Crime Stories: India Detectives

Hours before the Karnataka High Court ordered the removal of an episode from Netflix’s Crime Stories: India Detectives series producer Claire Cahill spoke to OTTplay about the choice of stories included in the docu-series. Initially released as a four-part series, it is now streaming with only three, after one of the defendants in the first story cited contents in the story as damaging to his case.

The Bengaluru police has been categoric about due diligence being followed by them and the series producers, with no information about the cases given out until they were in a court of law. Speaking to us on an unrelated note, Claire also reinforced the fact that only those stories where consent was possible and obtained were used in the final version.

Explaining the filming process and demographic covered in the stories, she said, “We had a set filming period, and had no control over the crimes that happened in that time frame and had to follow the cases then. Also, it is really important to understand that everyone featured in the series has given their consent. We wouldn’t be broadcasting if we didn’t have all the necessary consents. Everyone involved in those stories has been informed about what’s being filmed, why and how that material is being shared. They have not only given their consent to be filmed in an observational manner, but many have also given interviews; that’s real commitment and choice to be involved in those films. In terms of the demographic that’s included, one is a female software engineer, who is incredibly educated and saw the value in contributing. Obviously, that was an awful crime, but she is very representative of that changing Bengaluru, and the educated, ambitious, affluent younger generation. We couldn’t predict or dictate the crimes taking place in our filming period, but we have been able to offer representation of a variety of the public and, crucially, where consent was possible and obtained.”

When we reached out to Netflix about the removal of A Murdered Mother a representative said the streaming service had no comment on the matter at the moment.

Share