Gujarat HC said- ‘Maharaj’ is not based on 1862 defamation case, meanwhile protests in Ujjain

While the Gujarat High Court is scheduled to hear the release of Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan’s debut film ‘Maharaj’ on Friday, Hindu organizations are also protesting against it. On Thursday, while the High Court has kept the interim stay on the release, keeping the decision reserved after watching the film, the Vaishnava sect in Ujjain has protested against it, calling it against Sanatan Dharma. The protesters have described the film as defaming Hindu religious leaders and deities. However, Justice Sangeeta Visen made a verbal comment in the court that this film seems to be based neither on any book nor on a true incident. The Gujarat High Court on Thursday extended the interim stay on the release of ‘Maharaj’ on the OTT platform ‘Netflix’ for one more day. The court found that the film is not based on the 1862 defamation case or the book cited by producer Yash Raj Films. Justice Sangeeta Visen said during the hearing a day after watching the film, ‘The film says that it is based on a true incident, which led to a defamation case. But it is neither based on any book nor a case. The court trial in the film is shown for less than 20 minutes.’

Junaid Khan’s ‘Maharaj’ was to be released on June 13

Earlier on Wednesday, the High Court had said that it was ready to watch the film in the interest of justice. The film was scheduled to release on Netflix on June 14. But an interim stay was imposed on it on June 13 itself. Followers of the Vaishnav Pushti Marg sect have filed a petition in the High Court.

Vaishnava sect protests in Ujjain

On the other hand, on Thursday, there were protests on the streets of Ujjain against the film. It has been said that it has been made with the intention of misleading the Vedic Sanatan Hindu religion and portraying the religious gurus of Hinduism as villains. Shri Vallabh Vaishnav Mandal, Mahila Mandal and Yuva Mandal have protested against the film at the Kharakuan police station in Ujjain and submitted a memorandum. Social workers Vitthal Nagar and Anand Purohit said that in ‘Maharaj’, the sentiments of the Sanatan Dharma and its inclusive Lord Vishnu’s follower Acharya Shri of Vaishnavism, as well as the Vaishnavism of Sanatan Hindu religion and the youth have been hurt.

The petitioner cited the IT Act 2021 in the court

However, amid all this, the Gujarat High Court will also hear the case on Friday. The petitioners in the court have described some parts of the film as ‘reprehensible and insulting’. It is alleged that the release of the film is likely to incite hatred and violence against the ‘Pushti Marg sect’, which would be a violation of the code of conduct under the IT Act, 2021.

Lawyer said- freedom of expression, not license to defame

Petitioners’ lawyer Mihir Joshi argued in court on Thursday that the film is based on a controversial case. While Yash Raj Films argued that the film is based on a book published in 2013 by Gujarati writer Saurabh Shah. Lawyer Mihir Joshi said in his/her argument that the law obliges OTT platforms and filmmakers to follow code of conduct rules. It makes it mandatory to keep in mind religious diversity and public order. ‘Freedom of expression and creativity’ does not mean that you have got a license to defame someone.

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Judge Sangeeta Visen said- If you want to cross-examine, then do it

On this, Justice Sangeeta Visen verbally remarked that she has seen the film and it is neither based on the book nor the defamation case. After this, Mihir Joshi said that he/she leaves it to the court to decide whether the film defames, insults or is derogatory to religion. Joshi said that if Netflix and Yash Raj Films are arguing that their film is based on true events, then he/she would like to debate on previous judicial precedents in this regard. After the hearing, the High Court said that the petitioners want to argue further on this. Therefore, extending the interim stay on the release, the case will now be heard on Friday as well.

‘A true devotee is the one who allows his/her wife to sleep with the Maharaja’..the British government was tensed due to these allegations on the saint of Vallabh sect

Why is there a ruckus over ‘Maharaj’, what is the defamation case of 1862

‘Maharaj’ is said to be based on the decision of British judges in the hearing and judgment of a defamation case of the year 1862. This case was filed by religious leader Jadunathji against social reformer Karsandas Mulji. Jadunathji was one of the leaders of the Pushti Marg sect. he/she filed this case after Mulji wrote an article in his/her weekly newspaper claiming that the religious leader had sexual relations with his/her female followers. he/she used to force the wives of male followers to have sex to show their devotion. The British court had then rejected this petition.