Jolly LLB 3 in Legal Trouble: Pune Court Summons Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi for Alleged Mockery of Judiciary
A civil court in Pune has issued summons to Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, and director Subhash Kapoor over allegations that their upcoming film Jolly LLB 3 disrespects the judiciary. The court has asked them to appear on 28 August 2025.
The Complaint
The petition was filed by advocates Wajed Rahim Khan, Wazed Khan Bidkar, and Ganesh Mhaske, who claim the film’s teaser projects the judicial system in a poor light. They object to:
- Lawyers addressing judges as “Mamu,” a slang term seen as derogatory.
- Courtroom scenes showing advocates fighting like in a domestic quarrel, instead of maintaining professional decorum.
According to the petitioners, these depictions go beyond satire and amount to disrespect towards lawyers, judges, and the judiciary. They have also demanded a ban on the film’s release.
Advocate Wajed Rahim Khan told ANI:
“There must be respect for lawyers and judges. The way advocates and judges are shown in the teaser is wrong. That is why we filed the petition.”
About the Film
The Jolly LLB franchise has been one of Bollywood’s most popular courtroom comedy-dramas.
- Jolly LLB (2013), starring Arshad Warsi, was a sleeper hit.
- Jolly LLB 2 (2017), with Akshay Kumar, became a superhit, crossing ₹200 crore worldwide.
- Jolly LLB 3 brings both actors together for the first time, along with Saurabh Shukla, Huma Qureshi, Amrita Rao, and Annu Kapoor. Directed by Subhash Kapoor and produced under Star Studio 18, the film is scheduled for release on 19 September 2025.
This is not the first time the franchise has run into controversy. Jolly LLB 2 also faced petitions in 2017 over alleged misrepresentation of the legal system. The latest case again raises the debate between creative freedom in cinema and respect for judicial institutions.
