Mumbai | August 25, 2025: The Bombay High Court has directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant a censor certificate to the upcoming film Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi without any cuts, dismissing the board’s concerns over alleged obscenity and defamation.

Court Rejects CBFC’s Objections

The order came after the bench personally viewed the film over the weekend. In its ruling on Monday, the court noted:
“We have seen the movie in its context, and we don’t see that anything needs to be re-edited. We paused at every point flagged, and we don’t find anything objectionable.”

The CBFC had initially demanded 29 cuts, later reduced to 21, but the filmmakers refused, calling the demands unacceptable.

CBFC’s Concerns and Court’s Response

Senior Advocate Ram Apte, representing the CBFC, argued the film contained obscene elements and could be defamatory toward Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. However, when asked by the court if he had actually watched the film, Apte admitted he had not.

The bench also asked if Apte had read the book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, on which the film is based — he again said no.

The court observed that films cannot be denied certification merely because they are based on real individuals or events.

Disclaimer Requirement

The judges suggested adding a disclaimer clarifying that the film is a work of fiction inspired by creative interpretation. The petitioners — Samrat Cinematics India Pvt. Ltd, represented by advocates Ravi Kadam, Satatya Anand, and Nikhil Aradhe — submitted a revised disclaimer, which the court accepted.

Next Steps

With all objections dismissed, the court ordered the CBFC to grant certification and allow the film’s theatrical release without further delay.

Source: TOI / IANS
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