A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court against the upcoming film The Taj Story, with the petitioner alleging that the movie distorts historical facts and could disturb communal harmony.
The petition, filed by advocate Shakeel Abbas, has sought directions to the Central government and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to review the film’s certification before its release.
In his plea, Abbas claimed that The Taj Story spreads “misleading and manipulated information” about the Taj Mahal, accusing the filmmakers of promoting a “divisive political ideology.” The petition names the film’s producers, director, writer, and actor Paresh Rawal as respondents, along with the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the CBFC.
The petitioner argued that the film “deliberately twists historical facts for political motives” and warned that its release could fuel communal tension. He also alleged that the production team has a record of making politically charged films, citing earlier titles such as The Kashmir Files and The Bengal Files.
According to the PIL, the trailer for The Taj Story was released on October 16, and the film is scheduled for a nationwide release on October 31. Abbas said the CBFC “failed in its duty” by approving the trailer without properly scrutinising it for “factual inaccuracies and provocative content.”
The petition urges the court to direct the CBFC to re-examine the film’s certification, issue a stronger disclaimer, and consider removing objectionable scenes or classifying it as an Adults Only film.
The plea emphasised that unchecked releases of such movies could “damage India’s secular values and distort public understanding of history.”
The Delhi High Court is expected to hear the matter soon.
