The iconic residence known as Aashirwad, situated in Mumbai's upscale Bandra locality, has returned to national attention following a landmark judicial directive. In a significant intervention, the Bombay High Court has ordered media outlets, news websites, and digital publishing platforms to immediately stop publishing content or videos describing the residential property as haunted, cursed, ill-omened, or spooky. The court observed that floating unsubstantiated claims about a person's house directly damages their reputation and breaches their fundamental right to privacy and peace.
The Cinematic Heritage and Rajesh Khanna Era
For decades, the Bandra address served as a prime cultural landmark, drawing massive crowds of cinema enthusiasts eager to catch a single glimpse of their idol. During the height of his career, late superstar Rajesh Khanna routinely appeared on the balcony of Aashirwad every Sunday to greet thousands of devoted fans who gathered from across the country. The property stood as a physical testament to the unprecedented stardom of Indian cinema's first superstar. However, in recent years, digital channels and internet forums began circulating speculative narratives and supernatural myths regarding the address, creating distress for its present occupants.
Reconstruction of the Structure and the Legal Petition
Businessman Shashi Shetty acquired the historic property several years ago. Recognizing the deteriorated state of the original building, he demolished the structure and erected a completely new luxury private home on the site. Out of respect for the emotional legacy and historical weight of the location, he chose to retain the original name Aashirwad for the newly constructed mansion. Despite the complete physical transformation of the property, numerous online publications, social media feeds, and YouTube broadcasts continued to characterize the new structure as cursed or ill-omened. Faced with continuous sensationalized coverage, Shashi Shetty approached the Bombay High Court, stating in his petition that these exaggerated reports caused severe disruption to his family's normal living conditions and public standing.
Legal Arguments Presented by Senior Advocate Birendra Saraf
Representing the homeowner, Senior Advocate Birendra Saraf outlined the factual background before the bench. He pointed out that the old structure no longer exists, as a modern home has been built from scratch in its place. The counsel argued that retaining the legendary name Aashirwad does not give media channels or digital creators any right to attach outdated urban legends and unverified rumors to a newly built private residence. He emphasized that spreading ghost stories for online traction hurts the owner's personal dignity and amounts to clear defamation.
Justice Arif S. Doctor's Observations and Interim Order
Presiding over the case, Justice Arif S. Doctor held that the property owner's prayer for interim protection was entirely justified. The judge noted in the order that based on the material available on record, the reports falsely characterizing the petitioner's residence as a haunted or cursed house are prima facie defamatory. The bench stressed that such fabricated and sensational media stories directly undermine the petitioner's fundamental right to live peacefully and with dignity. Consequently, the Bombay High Court granted an interim injunction restricting all media entities and digital content providers from disseminating such reports. This protective order remains active until the next scheduled hearing on August 21, 2026, marking an important legal boundary against baseless property-related rumors in media publishing.
