Court stays release of Junaid Khan's debut film 'Maharaj' on Hindu group's plea

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday stayed the release of Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan's debut film 'Maharaj' following a plea by a Hindu group, which claimed that the movie would incite violence against followers of a Hindu sect.

The film directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Aditya Chopra was slated for release on Netflix on June 14.

The stay order was issued on a petition filed on behalf of devotees of Lord Krishna and followers of Vallabhacharya, which is the Pushtimarg



sect. The petition alleged that the movie, apparently based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, is likely to affect public order and incite violence against the followers of the sect and the Hindu religion.

According to the petition, the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, ignited by "allegations of misconduct by a prominent figure" and decided by the English Judges of the Supreme Court of Bombay, castigates the Hindu religion and makes "seriously blasphemous comments" against Lord Krishna as well as devotional songs and hymns.