Gujarat HC lifts stay on Junaid Khan’s Maharaj

The Gujarat High Court on Friday lifted the interim stay to the release of Maharaj, the Hindi film debut film of Aamir Khan's son Junaid, observing that there is nothing derogatory in it and neither does it target the Pushtimarg sect as alleged by the petitioners of the community.

The film is based on an 1862 libel case involving a Vaishnavite religious leader and social reformer Karsandas Mulji, who had accused the godman of sexual misconduct in an article published in his newspaper.

Some members of the Pushtimarg sect had filed a petition against its release on Netflix, claiming that it hurts religious sentiments.

Justice Sangeeta Vishen had on June 13 given an interim stay to the release of the film on the OTT platform.

In her order on Friday, the judge noted that the film has been certified by CBFC and does not target the sect.

Directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra, the film also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Shalini Pandey and Sharvari (special appearance). It has started streaming on Netflix.