The legal dispute surrounding Kala Hiran: Battle for Legacy, a film reportedly based on aspects of Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s life and the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, has taken a fresh turn. The film’s producer, Amit Jani, has challenged the Delhi High Court’s territorial jurisdiction to hear Salman’s petition seeking to stop the film’s release and promotional activities.
Following Jani’s application, the court has issued a notice seeking Salman’s response. A bench led by Justice Tejas Karia issued the notice on Friday, 9 October, and scheduled the next hearing for 16 December.
Jani argues that the Delhi High Court lacks the territorial jurisdiction to hear the case and should therefore dismiss Salman’s petition.
Representing the producer, his lawyer told the court that Salman resides in Mumbai, while Jani lives in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Neither party, the lawyer argued, resides within the Delhi High Court’s territorial jurisdiction or conducts business there.
The lawyer further maintained that the publication of the film’s teaser, posters and other promotional materials in Delhi does not, by itself, provide sufficient grounds for the court to hear the dispute.
The producer’s application has introduced a new legal question into the case, shifting attention towards whether the Delhi High Court is the appropriate forum to consider Salman’s original petition. The court has yet to deliver a final decision on the jurisdictional challenge.
Salman’s objections to the film
Salman previously approached the Delhi High Court seeking an injunction against the film’s release and promotional campaign. He alleged that the production draws on the widely publicised 1998 blackbuck poaching case and various aspects of his personal life.
According to Salman’s petition, the film uses elements associated with his public persona, including his name, mannerisms, way of speaking and recognisable references to popular films in which he has appeared. He argues that these elements could be used to portray him in a manner that damages his reputation.
The legal proceedings connected with the blackbuck poaching case also form a central part of Salman’s objections. According to his account, he has been acquitted in three of the four cases related to the matter. He has also stated that related appeals remain pending before the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court.
Salman has expressed concern that a dramatised portrayal of the proceedings could affect his right to a fair trial. He has further alleged that the film’s teaser suggests he is being portrayed as a criminal.
In his view, such a depiction could create a negative impression among viewers, damage his professional reputation and potentially influence public perceptions of the ongoing legal proceedings.
These concerns underpin his request for the court to restrain the film’s release and promotional activities. However, the allegations remain part of his case and have not been established as findings by the court.
Jurisdictional challenge could shape the case
The dispute now centres on two principal questions: whether the film’s content and promotional material infringe Salman’s rights or harm his reputation, and whether the Delhi High Court has the territorial jurisdiction to hear his petition.
The notice gives Salman an opportunity to respond to the producer’s jurisdictional challenge. Its issuance does not mean that the court has accepted Jani’s arguments or decided to dismiss the actor’s case.
The court will need to consider the parties’ submissions and the relevant legal grounds before determining how the proceedings should continue.
The next hearing, scheduled for 16 December, could prove significant in establishing the course of the litigation. The court’s decision on jurisdiction will help determine whether Salman’s original petition can proceed before the Delhi High Court.
The request to stop the film’s release and promotional activities will also remain subject to further legal consideration. Until the court rules on the issues before it, the dispute surrounding Kala Hiran: Battle for Legacy remains unresolved.
Both the producer’s challenge and Salman’s objections are awaiting further judicial consideration, leaving the film’s legal position uncertain as the case moves towards its next hearing.
