We reported on Dragon Age Inquisition being pulled from India earlier. Now, the actual legal basis for it has been revealed.
Chapter XVI, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code states:
377. Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offense described in this section.
This part of the penal code, which was in effect since 1861, was intended to criminalize and punish homosexual sex. After an extended period of debate and lobbying, this law was repealed in 2009 by the Delhi High Court, only to be reupheld by the country’s Supreme Court last December 2013.
Because of this legal quagmire, while the game could have been released in the country if it came out earlier, now its distribution is no longer allowed.