Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has stayed the release of animation film titled ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’ amid allegations that the film portrays distorted information about Lord Jagannath.

The HC has restrained the makers of the animation film from releasing it till further orders while hearing a PIL filed by Mahesh Kumar Sahoo, a member of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee in Puri.

The court has posted next hearing on the case to August 5. The makers of the film had earlier announced that they would release the film on July 17.

Puri King Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and several religious scholars have alleged that the film portrays distorted information about Lord Jagannath.

They had earlier suggested several changes to the film so that the viewers would get authentic information about Lord Jagannath.

Without making the necessary changes, the makers of the film had announced its release date.