The Bombay High Court has declined to grant a stay on the streaming of Amazon Prime Video’s series Matka King, featuring Vijay Varma in the lead role. This ruling comes amidst ongoing legal challenges brought by Tanuja Bhagat, who claims that the narrative is based on her late grandfather, Kalyanji Bhagat, known for initiating the Matka gambling game in Mumbai during the 1960s.

Kalyanji Bhagat, who originally engaged in masala trading in the 1940s, is credited with founding the Matka gambling culture that flourished in the city. Tanuja has raised concerns that her grandfather’s legacy is not being accurately represented in the show.

Tanuja Bhagat’s Objections and Legal Steps

Tanuja Bhagat first expressed her objections in 2023, requesting the show’s creators to either consult the family for an accurate portrayal or to cease production altogether. When her requests went unacknowledged, she escalated her actions by issuing a cease-and-desist notice to the producers in April 2024.

The situation intensified when Tanuja filed a formal petition with the Bombay High Court in 2025, seeking an injunction against the series. Her legal action calls for halting production, removing any promotional content, and preventing the show from being released entirely.

In a recent court hearing on April 15, 2025, the Bombay High Court reviewed the arguments from both parties involved. Ultimately, the bench ruled against imposing any restrictions on the series’ release, with further proceedings scheduled for April 20, 2025, as reported by Legal Era Online.

Tanuja Bhagat’s Public Statement

Following the issuance of her cease-and-desist notice, Tanuja Bhagat made a video statement in May 2025, expressing her concerns regarding the portrayal of her grandfather in Matka King. She alleged that Amazon Prime Video is misleading the public by commercialising her grandfather’s identity and misrepresenting history.

In her statement, Tanuja underscored that Kalyanji Bhagat was the true pioneer of the Matka game, a claim supported by various government agencies that have referred to him as the ‘Matka King.’ She accused the producers of obscuring historical truths by suggesting that the show is based on Ratan Khatri, her grandfather’s former manager, rather than on Kalyanji himself.

Tanuja foresees that the series could perpetuate inaccuracies about the iconic figure in Mumbai’s gambling lore, hence undermining the historical relevance of her grandfather. These allegations highlight ongoing discussions around the integrity and representation of cultural figures in popular media.

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