A writ petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the release and streaming of the upcoming Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat, with the petitioner alleging that the film’s title and promotional material collectively defame the Brahmin community.
The plea was filed on February 5, 2026, by Mahender Chaturvedi, who describes himself as an acharya devoted to the study and teaching of Indian scriptures, philosophy and spiritual traditions. Submitted through Advocate Vineet Jindal, the petition seeks a writ of mandamus directing relevant authorities — including the Union of India and Netflix India — to restrain the film’s release and streaming until the legal challenge is resolved.
At the core of the petition is an objection to the film’s title, Ghooskhor Pandat, which the petitioner says links the term “Pandat” (a variant of Pandit, traditionally associated with scholarship, ethical conduct and spiritual guidance) with ghooskhor (a word connoting bribery and corruption). The plea argues that this association harms the dignity, reputation and cultural identity of the Brahmin community and also affects the petitioner’s personal vocation.
According to the plea, the title and promotional material are stereotyping and vilifying an entire religious and social group. It asserts that such portrayal amounts to collective defamation and is communally offensive in a manner that could disrupt public order and social harmony.
The petition contends that the impugned material violates fundamental rights protected under Articles 14 (equality before law), 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) and 25 (freedom of conscience and religion) of the Constitution of India. While acknowledging the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a), the plea notes that this right is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) in cases of hate speech, defamation or content that may disturb communal harmony.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by FilmyFriday. Source:: BollywoodHungama
