Karnataka HC Rejects Plea Against Jolly LLB 3, Imposes Rs.50,000 Fine
The Karnataka High Court on 18 September dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to stop the release of Bollywood film Jolly LLB 3. The Court also fined the petitioner, Syeda Neelufur, Rs.50,000 for filing a frivolous case and wasting valuable judicial time.
The Bench observed that such petitions misuse the legal process and delay genuine litigants from being heard. The Court directed the petitioner to deposit the cost by 4 October, warning that coercive steps would follow if she failed to comply.
This is not the first time the film has faced courtroom hurdles:
- Allahabad High Court: Rejected a similar plea, holding that the trailer contained nothing offensive towards the judiciary.
- Madhya Pradesh High Court: Recently pulled up a lawyer for not making the producers or director parties in his petition. Hearing is scheduled today.
- Gujarat High Court: Petition still pending, but the petitioner was asked to consider the Allahabad High Court’s decision before proceeding.
The common claim across these cases is that Jolly LLB 3 “defames the judiciary and legal profession.”
Despite the controversies, the Jolly LLB franchise remains popular:
- Jolly LLB (2013), starring Arshad Warsi, was a surprise hit, earning nearly Rs.50 crore on a Rs.10 crore budget.
- Jolly LLB 2 (2017), with Akshay Kumar in the lead, crossed Rs.200 crore globally.
Now, both Warsi and Kumar return in Jolly LLB 3, along with Saurabh Shukla, Huma Qureshi, Amrita Rao, and Annu Kapoor. Directed by Subhash Kapoor and produced under Star Studio 18, the movie is set to release on 19 September 2025.
Interestingly, the franchise has earlier faced similar objections; in 2017, Jolly LLB 2 also drew petitions claiming it misrepresented the legal system.
