Pune court adjourns hearing in ‘Khashaba’ copyright dispute; writer cites teaser as evidence

The matter came up before a new judge on Saturday. Dudhane said his counsel, Advocate Suvarna Shinde, had earlier moved an application seeking the appointment of a judicial commission to examine the film and compare it with his book before its release after Advocate Ramkrishna Kulkarni, counsel for Nagraj Manjule, informed the court that the film would not be released before July.

Speaking to The Indian Express after the hearing, Dudhane said, “We have given a written affidavit stating that the five scenes match the book completely. We have even specified which page of the book they match.”

Dudhane said he had placed 19 pieces of evidence before the court during the proceedings, including comparisons between scenes from the teaser and passages from his book, references in the respondents’ affidavit filed in the ₹5 crore damages suit, and documents relating to an agreement involving Ranjit Jadhav, son of Khashaba Jadhav.

He further alleged that the affidavit he filed identifies five scenes from the teaser that, according to him, correspond to passages in his book. Dudhane claimed the teaser depicts Khashaba Jadhav’s interactions with the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, his principal, British officers, Manikrao of Baroda, alleged injustice towards Punjabi wrestlers, as well as wrestling and mallakhamb sequences, among other episodes. These allegations are part of the pending proceedings before the court and are yet to be adjudicated.

Advocate Kulkarni and representatives of Jio Studios declined to comment after the hearing.

The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on January 1, 2027.

The writer is an intern with The Indian Express.