Hindustani Bhau moves Bombay High Court seeking FIR against Farah Khan for remarks about Holi

Social media influencer and former Bigg Boss contestant Vikas Jayram Fhatak (Hindustani Bhau) has approached the Bombay High Court seeking registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Bollywood director and choreographer Farah Khan for her remarks about Holi festival..According to Fhatak's plea, Khan made a derogatory remark about the Hindu festival of Holi during an episode of 'Celebrity MasterChef' in February 2025.The police failed to take any action despite a formal complaint filed by him, he said in his plea.The incident occurred on February 20 when Khan allegedly referred to Holi as “a festival for the Chhapris.” Bhau has argued that the term “Chhapris” is commonly used as slang with derogatory undertones, implying a lack of culture, refinement and status. .According to the plea, Khan’s comment, which was made on a widely-viewed public platform, hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community and has the potential to incite communal unrest. The remark quickly gained media attention with outlets such as Firstpost highlighting public outrage over the statement.Following the remark, Fhatak filed a formal complaint with the Senior Inspector of Police at Khar Police Station on February 21 requesting the registration of an FIR against Khan. He later escalated the complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Additional Commissioner of Police, urging them to take action against Khan. However, Bhau has claimed that no action has been taken to date, and no FIR has been registered by the police..In his petition filed through advocate Ali Kaashif Khan- Deshmukh, Fhatak emphasised that Holi is a festival celebrated with great joy and unity, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Khan’s remarks were a direct insult to the cultural and religious sentiments of millions of Hindus worldwide, he submitted."The petitioner states that the remarks made by the Respondent no.5 (Khan) have not only hurt the Hindu community but also set a dangerous precedent where public figures can make derogatory statements about religious festivals without accountability. Given the Respondent no.5 influence as a celebrity, the impact of these words is magnified, potentially inciting public unrest, communal tensions, and social disharmony. Many devotees feel insulted, and this could lead to public protests, law and order issues, and unnecessary unrest in an otherwise peaceful society." .It is Fhatak's case that the failure of the police to register an FIR constitutes a violation of the Supreme Court’s directions in Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh and Ors (2014), which held that the registration of an FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) if the information discloses the commission of a cognizable offense. As per the petition, the information in his complaint clearly discloses a cognizable offense and therefore, the police are legally bound to register an FIR.In this regard, the plea has claimed that Khan’s remarks violate several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including Section 196 (promoting enmity between different religious groups), Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), Section 302 (intentional wounding of religious feelings through spoken words or gestures), and Section 353 (creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes, threatening public tranquillity). .He has sought directions from the High Court to the Additional Commissioner of Police of West Region to register an FIR against Khan and to also take action against police officials who failed to register FIR. .Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.