New Delhi, 19 February (H.S.): Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey informed the Supreme Court on Thursday, February 19, 2026, that the production has retracted the title Ghooskhore Pandit with no intention of wounding religious sentiments, leading the court to dispose of the petition while barring new FIRs and declaring the controversy resolved.

In the affidavit, Pandey asserted neither he nor his production house intended to offend any religion, caste, or community, describing the film as a fictional police drama investigating a crime without disparaging any group. All promotional materials, posters, and trailers featuring the original title have been withdrawn; a new, distinctly different title remains undecided to avert future disputes.

On February 12, 2026, the Supreme Court had rebuked the makers, stating: You cannot demean a community in the name of freedom of expression. After Pandey committed to a title change, the bench mandated the affidavit, cautioning that such titles exacerbate societal unrest where speech rights carry reasonable restrictions precluding community targeting.

Atul Mishra's petition contended the title deliberately targeted a specific community, prompting judicial scrutiny to uphold public order and morality amid claims of caste-based stereotyping. The court's closure safeguards creative freedoms while prioritizing communal harmony.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar