Bombay High Court Today (July 17) questioned CBFC’s delay in clearing Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, based on UP CM Yogi Adityanath. The filmmakers expressed urgency as the film’s release date nears.
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MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court heard an urgent petition filed by the producers of the upcoming Hindi film Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, which is said to be inspired by the life of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The film is reportedly based on the book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister.
The matter was brought before a bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale, where the filmmakers raised strong concerns over the delay by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in granting the necessary certificate for release.
At the beginning of the hearing, no official from CBFC was present in court. However, a lawyer representing the Union of India appeared and requested additional time from the court to respond.
Senior Advocate Ravi Kadam, representing the film’s producers, expressed the stress and loss being caused due to the delay.
He emotionally stated,
“I am suffering every day.”
The Court made it clear that they were not making any decision about the content or certification itself but emphasized the CBFC’s duty to act without unnecessary delay.
The bench remarked,
“We are not deciding anything.. The only question is CBFC has to decide on the NOC..”
Kadam further informed the Court that the film is scheduled to release on August 1 and that all preparations have been completed.
He submitted,
“First August is the release. I have booked screens everywhere.”
The judges, while showing concern for the delay and the impact on the filmmakers, responded firmly,
“If you have the names, give us.. We will keep it at 1:30. Otherwise, we will direct them to decide within [a timeframe]. We will direct them to strictly follow the timeline. Last time someone had appeared on behalf of CBFC and had sought time. So we will keep it at 1:30. CBFC can’t sit on the certification.”
The Court clearly indicated that the CBFC cannot continue postponing its decision and is expected to act within a definite timeframe, especially when release deadlines and public screenings are at stake.
As the hearing continues, all eyes are on the CBFC’s response and whether the film will meet its intended release date.
CASE TITLE:
Samrat Cinematics India Pvt. Ltd vs CBFC and Ors
EARLIER IN BOMBAY HC
The Bombay High Court on July 15 asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to explain why it is delaying the approval of the movie ‘Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi’. The filmmakers say CBFC is not doing its work on time, and this is affecting their release plans and causing big losses.
The film is inspired by the book ‘The Monk Who Became Chief Minister’, which is said to be based on the life of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The movie is planned for release in theatres on August 1, 2025.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale gave notice to CBFC after a CBFC official present in court asked for time to appoint a lawyer. The next hearing will happen on July 17.
The court also orally said that CBFC must work within the time given by law and cannot avoid its responsibility. As the judges said, CBFC cannot “shy away” from its legal duty.
The production company, Samrat Cinematics India Pvt. Ltd., has filed the petition. They say the CBFC is delaying the approval of the film, teaser, trailer, and a promotional song without any proper reason. Even though the film is ready to release nationwide on August 1, they are still waiting for approval.
The petition also says that CBFC is wrongly asking for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the UP Chief Minister’s Office. The filmmakers say there is no such rule in the Cinematograph Act, 1952 or the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.
The petition clearly says,
“It is pertinent to note that such an erroneous requirement / request is not only extremely prejudicial to the professional interests of the Petitioner but also detrimental to its financial interests. Further, an irrational, unreasonable and illegal demand / requirement being put forward by CBFC for obtaining a NOC from the CMO’s office is nothing but a ploy to delay the release of the motion picture ‘Ajey’, that too when the same is due for theatrical release on August 1st, 2025.”
According to the petition, the filmmakers applied for CBFC approval on June 5, 2025. As per Rule 37, CBFC should check the application in 7 days and send it for screening within 15 days. But almost a month passed without any response.
Then, on July 3, the production team applied again using the priority scheme, and paid three times the normal fee, as advised by CBFC officials, under Rule 33(2). The screening was scheduled for July 7, but it was suddenly cancelled on July 6 with no further update.
Later, when the filmmakers checked their application status on July 12, it showed “Incomplete” with a vague comment: “Provide Documentary Evidence”, but no clear instruction on what was missing.
The filmmakers say that all these actions are harming them badly. The petition says they have already spent around Rs 30 crore before the release, and will spend another Rs 10 crore more in promotions. Because of this delay, many promotional plans have been cancelled or changed, causing huge financial loss and poor marketing.
The film is based on the well-known book ‘The Monk Who Became Chief Minister’ by Shantanu Gupta, which was published in 2017, is available in 12 languages, and has many readers.
The petition adds that the book is already accepted by the UP CM’s office. The film shows a respectful and fact-based story about the leadership journey of a public figure.
The filmmakers also claim that CBFC’s behaviour is against their fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Indian Constitution. They want the Court to tell CBFC to approve the film and its promotional material within 5 days using the priority scheme. They also asked the Court to fix a date for the film’s immediate screening.
- Senior Advocate Ravi Kadam, along with advocates Satatya Anand, Nikhil Aradhe, Aakash Sinha, Arjun Aggarwal, and Vrinda Bagaria, appeared for the filmmakers in court.
ALSO READ: Delhi High Court Bans 56 Piracy Websites from Streaming ‘Maalik’ and ‘Sarbala Ji’ Movies
CASE TITLE:
Samrat Cinematics India Pvt. Ltd vs CBFC and Ors
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