Jabalpur, Sep 13 (IANS) — The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices to Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi, along with producer Alok Jain, director Subhash Kapoor, and others, over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the song “Bhai Vakeel Hai” from the upcoming film Jolly LLB 3.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf has directed all parties to respond by September 17 — just two days before the film’s scheduled release on September 19.
The PIL, filed by advocate Pranjal Tiwari of Jabalpur, alleges that the lyrics of the song demean the legal profession and undermine the dignity of courtroom decorum. Represented by advocates Pramod Singh Tomar and Arzoo Ali, Tiwari pointed to lines such as “Rago mein tigdambaazi hai, har taale ki chaabi hai… har case ki package deal hai, fikr na kar tera bhai vakeel hai”, arguing that they portray lawyers in a derogatory and frivolous manner.
The petition further objects to the depiction of Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi dancing in lawyers’ gowns and neckbands, claiming it mocks judicial proceedings, may mislead the youth, and violates Section 5(b) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which restricts content harming public morality and decency.
In addition to the film’s cast and crew, the petition names the State Government, the Principal Secretary of the Home Department, the Information and Broadcasting Secretary, and the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) as respondents.
During the hearing, the state’s counsel noted that a similar petition had earlier been dismissed by the Allahabad High Court, which had refused to stay the film’s release over the same song. Acknowledging this, the MP High Court observed that including the producer and director as respondents was essential for any further judicial action.
With the release date approaching, the case has created fresh uncertainty around Jolly LLB 3. The court’s decision after September 17 will be closely monitored by both the legal fraternity and the film industry.
