Delhi HC Defers Urgent Hearing on PIL Against Paresh Rawal’s ‘The Taj Story’
New Delhi, Oct 30: Actor Paresh Rawal’s upcoming courtroom drama The Taj Story has sparked legal and political tensions ahead of its release.
The Delhi High Court today declined an urgent hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by BJP leader Rajneesh Singh, who alleges that the film uses content from his 2022 judicial petition without authorisation.
Singh, a spokesperson for the BJP in Ayodhya, claims the film’s storyline, promotional material, and trailer reference his original PIL, which sought to open 22 locked rooms inside the Taj Mahal to investigate claims of its temple origins.
That petition was dismissed by the Allahabad High Court in May 2022.
“The use of my petition as creative material without consent violates my intellectual and legal rights,” Singh stated. He emphasised that his intent was transparency in historical inquiry, not commercial exploitation.
In addition to the PIL, Singh has lodged formal complaints with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), urging them to halt the film’s certification and release.
He warned that the film could influence judicial proceedings and provoke social unrest.
Directed by Tushar Amrish Goel and produced by Suresh Jha, The Taj Story features Paresh Rawal, Zakir Hussain, Amruta Khanvilkar, Namit Das, and Sneha Wagh. The film’s trailer has already ignited debate online, with reactions split over its portrayal of historical narratives.
The Delhi High Court will hear the matter on Thursday. Meanwhile, the CBFC has yet to issue a public statement regarding the film’s certification status.
