Ghooskhor Pandat: The upcoming film of Neeraj Pandey to be telecast on Netflix starring Manoj Bajpayee has sparked a massive social and political controversy after its teaser released. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Hazratganj Police Station in Lucknow against Neeraj Pandey, the director of Ghooskhor Pandat, and the team, citing social harmony concerns.
Title of the film has been sharply criticized on X and Instagram, with many calling it as “disgusting, defamatory and derogatory” towards the Brahmin community.
Ghooskhor Pandat-Legal Challenges Ahead
An FIR has been filed against Neeraj Pandey and a petition is pending before the Delhi High Court. Pandey issued a clarification and remarked that the movie team has pulled down all promotions in the wake of the controversy.
The High Court petition claimed that the word “Pandat” defames the whole Brahmin community as the word “Pandat” is linked in the movie title with bribery and corruption.
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Advocate Vineet Jindal submitted that no form of creative freedom under Article 19 (1) (a) allows defamation, hate speech or content disturbing social harmony. The petition also urged the Union Government to ensure strict regulations are in place for preventing material that may harm communal peace.
A separate legal notice has been sent by Mumbai-based lawyer Ashutosh Dubey to the movie’s producers and Netflix.
Reaction Of Manoj Bajpayee
Actor Manoj Bajpayee posted a clarification on X saying the portrayal of the lead character or the film does not mean a statement about any community. Bajpayee, who plays the role of a morally compromised and corrupt police officer named Ajay Dikshit, said he has respect for public sentiment.
Earlier, a notice was issued by the Film Makers Combine that the makers had not obtained the required mandatory title approval as mandatory under industry regulations. The body warned that Pandey didn’t applied for permission to use Ghooskhor Pandat as the movie title.
