The Delhi High Court came down hard on ‘Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy’ makers, ordering teaser removal within 24 hours over Salman Khan’s personality rights plea. Justice Singh called producer Amit Jani’s conduct “incorrigible,” warning of contempt concerns. Khan alleges the film, linked to the 1998 blackbuck case, falsely portrays him and violates his fair trial rights.
On Monday, the Delhi High Court took a strong stance against the makers of ‘Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy’, indicating it would order the removal of the film’s teaser from social media within 24 hours. The court’s observations came while hearing a plea filed by Salman Khan, who sought protection of his personality rights, alleging that the film draws from the 1998 blackbuck poaching case and depicts him in a manner he considers defamatory.
Salman Khan’s plea prompts warning to platforms
Justice Jyoti Singh noted that should the producer fail to take down the teaser voluntarily, platforms such as X and YouTube would be ordered to remove the content themselves.
Salman Khan’s reputation “actively damaged,” says court
According to Bar and Bench, the court was scathing in its assessment of producer Amit Jani’s behavior during the hearing, noting that the ongoing presence of the teaser and related content was actively damaging Salman’s reputation. “What kind of contents are these. You seem to get emboldened by the fact that no order was passed last time. Your client thinks he is above the law. He is getting worse day by day … Every minute it is on public domain it is harming the reputation of the plaintiff (Khan) here. I was mild with you but your are incorrigible … You can’t do this even to a common man. It cannot get worse than this even for a common man.”
Salman Khan’s case flags contempt of court concern
Having viewed the teaser during the hearing, Justice Singh further noted that depicting events still under judicial consideration could potentially constitute contempt of court. She remarked, “Reputation is built with great effort; once it’s lost, it’s lost. Even if this is played for 24 hours, someone suffers.”
Salman Khan links film to 1998 blackbuck case
Salman wants the court to protect his personal rights, saying the film ‘Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy’ is based on the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. This case is still going on in the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court. Khan says the film wrongly shows him having links to the underworld. He also pointed out that the film’s poster shows a character who looks a lot like him, wearing a bracelet similar to one he wears. Khan says that since the case is still not decided, showing the film could hurt his right to a fair trial. His petition also mentions news reports and things producer Amit Jani reportedly said, which Khan claims make it clear the film is about the blackbuck case.
Salman Khan alleges legal notice was torn up on camera
Khan further alleged that after he issued a legal notice to the filmmakers, producer Amit Jani tore it up on camera during an interview, and subsequently took to X to claim he was being threatened by both Salman and the underworld.
Salman Khan’s team argues for right to fair trial
Arguing on behalf of the producer, counsel contended that neither the teaser nor the film mentions Salman by name, nor does it employ artificial intelligence or deepfake technology, asking, “This is only a teaser, how is his personality getting infringed by this?” Khan’s legal team, however, pushed back, insisting the film clearly alluded to the actor. His counsel questioned, “Do I not have a right to have a fair trial? Whole community is being pitted against me,” while also pointing out that Khan had already been acquitted in three of the four criminal cases, with the sentence in the remaining one currently suspended.
Salman Khan’s case brings Meta, Google into the picture
Representatives for Meta and Google also made submissions before the court, arguing that internet intermediaries shouldn’t be subject to pre-publication injunctions. Justice Singh, however, pushed back on this, noting that online platforms couldn’t be entirely absolved of responsibility either, remarking, “As platform owners, I will have to fix some responsibility on you somewhere.” The court went on to direct Khan’s legal team to compile a list of all links carrying the allegedly infringing content, paving the way for further takedown orders. Go to Source
