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When J.K. Rowling Sued A Kolkata Durga Puja Committee Over Harry Potter Pandal
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News18•11-10-2026, 18:30
When J.K. Rowling Sued A Kolkata Durga Puja Committee Over Harry Potter Pandal
- •An old controversy has resurfaced online regarding J.K. Rowling suing a Kolkata Durga Puja committee over copyright issues.
- •In 2007, the FD Block Puja Committee in Salt Lake, Kolkata, designed their Durga Puja pandal based on the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
- •J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. approached the Delhi High Court for copyright infringement, seeking compensation of Rs 20 lakh.
- •The committee argued that the pandal was built solely to attract visitors and for festive celebration, not for commercial gain.
- •Reports indicated the committee eventually received a one-time exemption to proceed with the celebrations, creating a fascinating piece of festival history.
Key Questions Answered
J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. sued the FD Block Puja Committee in Salt Lake, Kolkata, for copyright infringement after the organisers designed their Durga Puja pandal around the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry theme.
The legal action brought before the Delhi High Court reportedly sought Rs 20 lakh, which was around $50,000 at the time, in compensation.
The committee secretary stated that the organisers did not realize they needed the author's permission and maintained that the pandal was built to attract visitors rather than for commercial gain.
