A writ petition has been moved before the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the release and streaming of an upcoming Netflix film titled ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, with the petitioner alleging that the film’s title and proposed content are defamatory and communally offensive to the Brahmin community.

According to an ANI report yesterday, the plea has been filed by Mahender Chaturvedi through Advocate Vineet Jindal, seeking a writ of mandamus directing the authorities to intervene and restrain the streaming of the film, along with other consequential reliefs. Chaturvedi, who describes himself as an Acharya engaged in the study, teaching and propagation of Indian scriptures, philosophy and spiritual traditions, has stated that he is directly aggrieved by the film.

The petitioner has contended that the use of the word ‘Pandat’ in association with alleged corruption and bribery harms the dignity and reputation of the Brahmin community and also impacts his own vocation. He has alleged that Netflix India has announced and promoted the film and circulated promotional material that links the term ‘Pandat’ with immoral and corrupt conduct.

The plea argues that historically, the term signifies scholarship, ethical conduct, spiritual guidance and moral authority within Indian society and religious traditions. According to the petitioner, portraying it in a negative light amounts to stereotyping and vilification of an entire religious and social community.

The petition further claims that the impugned title and content violate fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution, asserting that the film discriminates against a particular religious and social group, infringes upon the right to dignity and reputation, and demeans religious and cultural identity connected with faith, rituals and traditions.

While acknowledging the constitutional protection of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a), the plea states that this right is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) and does not extend to hate speech, defamation or content that may disturb communal harmony and public order.

The petitioner has also alleged that the Union Government has failed to put in place an effective regulatory mechanism to prevent the misuse of creative freedom on OTT platforms. The plea claims that such regulatory gaps enable platforms to promote sensational or community-based vilification for commercial gain, amounting to an abdication of constitutional duty to protect fraternity and public order.

Through the petition, Chaturvedi has sought directions to the Union of India and Netflix India to stay the release and streaming of the film. He has also prayed for an interim order staying the release of the content during the pendency of the case and has urged the court to direct the Union Government to take appropriate action against Netflix India under applicable laws governing digital and OTT platforms.

Meanwhile, a PTI report from New Delhi added that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the wake of a complaint alleging that the title of an upcoming movie to be released on a web-based platform, “promotes negative stereotypes” and “vilifies a recognised social group”, according to the proceedings of the case.

The story of Netflix’s crime thriller, ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, follows a character, a corrupt police officer whose plans for a lucrative and eventful night are disrupted when he finds himself caught in the middle of a global conspiracy unfolding in the heart of Delhi.

The complainant, Sanjeev Newar, founder of ‘Gems of Bollywood’, in the complaint has alleged that the film contains “casteist and discriminatory content”.