The Bombay High Court on Tuesday pulled up YouTuber Vikas Pathak, popularly known as Hindustani Bhau, for “trying to gain publicity” over his plea seeking registration of a case against filmmaker Farah Khan.
Pathak, a former Big Boss contestant, had approached the High Court over the filmmaker’s alleged derogatory remarks regarding the Holi festival. Earlier this year, Khan had referred to Holi as a “festival of chhapris”.
A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad asked the YouTuber to stop being “so sensitive” and not burden the court with such petitions. The judges cited the overwhelming number of cases listed before them.
“Why are you so deeply hurt? Stop being so sensitive… We have more than 200 matters listed, and you bring such matters to court… For what? For publicity, to get your name in the headlines?”
Pathak later withdrew his petition against the choreographer, following a sharp rebuke from the bench.
The petition, filed by advocate Ali Kaashif Khan on behalf of Pathak, argued that Farah Khan’s comments on Holi on the reality TV show, Celebrity MasterChef, were offensive.
The plea claimed the remarks incited public outrage and posed a threat to communal harmony, but no FIR was registered.
“She has called chhapri, but you are not a chhapri. You are a gentleman, so why are you hurt?” the court said.
In a light-hearted remark, the court said Pathak might benefit from watching educational channels.
“Your client must see channels like National Geography, Travel & Living etc. I can say that after watching such channels your client will be very happy,” the court quipped.