Hyderabad: This week has been rife with significant legal developments and controversies involving prominent figures in the entertainment industry, which have captured widespread attention. Key highlights include the Gujarat High Court's stay on the release of Maharaj on Netflix, the Supreme Court halting the release of Hamare Barah due to alleged derogatory content, and a Mumbai court ordering an investigation into Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Raj Kundra for a Rs 90 lakh cheating case. Additionally, Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa's police custody was extended in connection with a murder case, and Raveena Tandon filed a Rs 100 crore defamation lawsuit over a misleading viral video. Here are the detailed accounts of these major newsmakers.
1. Stay on Maharaj release: The Gujarat High Court has stayed the release of the film Maharaj, starring Junaid Khan, on Netflix, following objections from eight followers of the Pushtimarg sect. They argue the film could cause disenchantment towards their sect, as it references the 1862 Maharaj Libel Case. Yash Raj Films (YRF) and Netflix sought an urgent hearing to lift the stay, but Justice Sangeeta Vishen declined, scheduling the hearing for Tuesday and requesting replies by then. The filmmakers argue the film is based on a 2013 book by a Vaishnavism follower and is not defamatory. Senior counsels accused the petitioners of "forum shopping" and questioned the Gujarat HC's jurisdiction, citing an ongoing civil suit in Mumbai and the film's CBFC certification.
2. Supreme Court halts release of film Hamare Barah:The Supreme Court has halted the release of the film Hamare Barah, directing the High Court to expedite their decision on a plea alleging the film is derogatory to the Islamic faith and married Muslim women. This follows a plea challenging the Bombay High Court's earlier ruling to suspend the release. Despite filmmakers removing contentious dialogues from the trailer, the Supreme Court found the trailer still offensive. The filmmakers' argument about financial losses was dismissed. Previously, a High Court petition argued the film violated the Cinematograph Act of 1952 and constitutional articles, portraying Islam and Muslim women negatively. Although the High Court initially lifted the stay on the condition of removing offensive dialogues and forming a review committee, the Supreme Court maintained the suspension until a final decision was reached. The controversy follows Karnataka's ban on the film due to concerns over communal tensions.