Gujarat HC Extends Stay on Junaid Khan's Debut Film 'Maharaj'

The Gujarat High Court has extended the stay on releasing 'Maharaj', a film involving Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan, due to a petition from the Pushtimarg sect claiming it hurts religious sentiments. The case is based on an 1862 libel trial involving Vaishnavite leader Karsandas Mulji.

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday extended the interim stay on the release of 'Maharaj', the debut film of Bollywood star Aamir Khan's son Junaid, for an additional day.

The film, centered on an 1862 libel case involving Karsandas Mulji, a Vaishnavite leader and social reformer, has faced legal challenges from members of the Pushtimarg sect. They argue that the film, set for release on Netflix, offends their religious sentiments.

During the hearing, advocate Mihir Joshi contended that Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, does not permit the publication of content that insults religious beliefs. He emphasized that true events' portrayal does not exempt publishers, such as OTT platforms, from adhering to legal standards.

Justice Sangeeta Vishen extended the release stay and rescheduled the hearing for Friday afternoon. The petitioners alleged the British-era court in the 1862 case made derogatory remarks about Hindu religion and Lord Krishna, requesting the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to intervene. The ministry has authority under the Information Technology Act to enforce the code of ethics.

Joshi highlighted that the film's content could provoke hatred and violence against the Pushtimarg sect, stressing the need for compliance with ethical standards. He noted legal precedents where the Supreme Court allowed injunctions on content, emphasizing that even Certified films could be challenged in court.

The petitioners' lawyer agreed not to contest further if the court deems the film non-insulting after a review. The contentious scenes include witnesses stating derogatory remarks about religion, which Joshi argued could not be justified as truth alone does not negate defamation.

Yash Raj Films (YRF), the producer of 'Maharaj', has proposed to provide the court with pre-release access to determine if it infringes on any community's sentiments. However, the judge has yet to decide whether to screen the film.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)