Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has officially pulled the title of his upcoming Netflix film, Ghooskhor Pandat, following intense scrutiny from the Supreme Court. In an affidavit filed on February 19, 2026, Pandey confirmed the title has been “unequivocally withdrawn” to ensure no community or religion feels insulted.
The Legal Breakdown
The Supreme Court bench, led by Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, had previously warned that “freedom of expression cannot be used as a license to denigrate a section of society.” The court’s intervention was prompted by a PIL from Atul Mishra of the Brahman Samaj of India, who argued that pairing a caste identifier with “ghooskhor” (bribe-taker) created a defamatory stereotype.
Key points from the filmmaker’s affidavit include:
- No Malicious Intent: Pandey stated that neither he nor his production house intended to outrage religious feelings or target any caste.
- Material Removed: All trailers, posters, and teasers featuring the original title were taken down as early as February 6, 2026.
- Fictional Police Drama: The film is described as a fictional investigation that does not portray any specific community as inherently corrupt.
What’s Next for the Film?
While the controversial title is gone, the movie—starring Manoj Bajpayee, Nushrat Bharuccha, and Saqib Saleem—is still moving toward release.
| Current Status | Details |
| New Title | Yet to be finalized; Pandey has promised it will not be “evocative” of the original. |
| Release Platform | Netflix |
| Court Status | The Supreme Court has disposed of the plea, effectively ending the legal standoff. |
| Similar Cases | A parallel petition in the Delhi High Court was also settled after the makers agreed to the name change. |
The court concluded the hearing by urging all parties, including social media commentators and YouTubers, to put a “quietus” to the controversy and allow the film to proceed under its new identity.