Delhi HC To Hear Pleas Against Centre’s Nod To Release Udaipur Files Film On Jul 30

Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court will hear petitions on July 30 that challenge the Central Government’s approval to release the film Udaipur Files – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder.

During proceedings on Monday, the court was informed that the film’s producers have sought a fresh certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with the re-certification expected to be considered soon.

The bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela scheduled the matter for Wednesday after one petitioner requested an adjournment.

These petitions were filed following a Supreme Court directive advising the petitioners to approach the Delhi High Court against the Centre’s decision to clear the film’s release.

The petitions come from Maulana Arshad Madani, head of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, and Mohammad Javed, who is among the accused in the murder case of Kanhaiya Lal.

The Supreme Court, on July 25, had observed that the filmmakers’ appeal against a high court stay on the film’s release was ineffective since they had accepted the Centre’s conditional approval granted on July 21, which required 6 cuts and changes in the film’s disclaimer.

Udaipur Files depicts the murder of a Udaipur tailor, Kanhaiya Lal, who was killed in June 2022 by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous. The killers claimed the act was retaliation for Lal’s alleged social media post supporting former BJP leader Nupur Sharma, who had sparked controversy with remarks about Prophet Mohammed.

NIA investigated the case, charging the accused under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code provisions. The trial is currently underway before a special NIA court in Jaipur.