The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on July 30, 2025, pleas challenging the Central Government's decision to allow the release of the film "Udaipur Files - Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder". This development follows the Supreme Court's direction to the High Court to address the matter.
The film's release has been mired in controversy, with petitions filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani and Mohd Javed, an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, seeking to halt its release. These petitions argue that the film could potentially incite communal tensions and disrupt public order.
The Supreme Court had previously addressed the issue on July 25, stating that filmmakers' appeal against the High Court order staying the film's release was infructuous, as they had accepted the Centre's July 21 order. This order cleared the film for release subject to six cuts in its scenes and modifications in the disclaimer. The Supreme Court clarified that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case and that the High Court could adjudicate on the issue of staying the film's release.
The case stems from the murder of Kanhaiya Lal, an Udaipur-based tailor, in June 2022. He was allegedly killed by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous for supposedly sharing a social media post supporting former BJP member Nupur Sharma after her controversial remarks about Prophet Mohammed. The case is currently being investigated by the NIA, and the accused have been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The film "Udaipur Files," directed by Bharat Shrinate and produced by Amit Jani, stars Vijay Raaz as Kanhaiya Lal. The film was initially scheduled for release on July 11, 2025, but it was delayed due to censor and legal issues. The director has stated that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had initially suggested 55 cuts to the film. Following the Supreme Court's ruling, the director announced a new release date of August 8, 2025. The producers have also applied to the CBFC for re-certification of the movie.
