'Ghooskhor Pandat' title controversy: FIR filed in Lucknow against Manoj Bajpayee starrer over alleged 'caste insult'

The teaser of Manoj Bajpayee's film, 'Ghooskhor Pandat', was launched at an event recently. As soon as the movie was announced, it received backlash for its title. Netizens claimed that the title associates a particular caste and community with bribery and corruption. And now, an FIR has been lodged against the makers of the movie in Lucknow. Let's learn more about it.

FIR filed in Lucknow against Manoj Bajpayee starrer

According to the ANI report, an FIR has been registered at Hazratganj Police Station in Lucknow against the makers of 'Ghooskhor Pandat' over allegations that its title and content "hurt religious and caste sentiments" and threaten public harmony.

The action follows directions to take strict measures against content that disturbs social peace, officials said.

The cops stated that the Station House Officer of Kotwali Hazratganj, Inspector Vikram Singh, took cognizance of complaints related to the film/web series, which is stated to be broadcast on social media and an OTT platform.


As per the police, prima facie, the title of the movie has been deliberately framed to target and insult a particular community—specifically the Brahmin community—by associating the term "Pandat" with corruption. The authorities also stated that there is widespread anger and resentment among the members of the community and various social organizations due to the name of the film.

The cops further added that some of the organizations have warned that they would protest against the film. As it would disrupt the law and order, along with social harmony, an FIR has been registered under relevant sections against the film's producer, Neeraj Pandey, and his team.

The police stated that further legal proceedings and investigation are underway, adding that a policy of zero tolerance will be followed against any attempt to hurt community sentiments or disturb public peace.

Legal actions against 'Ghooskhor Pandat'

The police action comes amid parallel legal proceedings in Delhi. A writ petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the release and streaming of an upcoming Netflix film titled 'Ghooskhor Pandat'.

The petition, filed by Mahender Chaturvedi through Advocate Vineet Jindal, alleges that the title and proposed content are defamatory and communally offensive.

The petitioner claims that linking the term "Pandat" with bribery and immoral conduct harms the dignity and reputation of the Brahmin community and undermines the historical and cultural significance of the term, which he says signifies scholarship, ethical conduct, and spiritual guidance.

It also seeks directions from the Union Government and Netflix India to stay the release and take action under applicable laws governing digital and OTT platforms, citing the risk of irreversible damage if the content is streamed.

Neeraj Pandey's statement

Neeraj Pandey has released a statement on the same. On his social media post, he wrote, "In light of these concerns, we have decided to take down all promotional materials for the time being, as we believe the film should be experienced in its entirety and understood in the context of the story we intended to tell, rather than judged on partial glimpses. I look forward to sharing the film with audiences soon."

More about 'Ghooskhor Pandat'

Directed by Ritesh Shah, the film features Manoj Bajpayee, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Divya Dutta, Saqib Saleem, Shraddha Das, and Kiku Sharda. No announcement has been made on its premiere date as of now.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”