The makers of "Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder," a film based on the 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan, have moved the Supreme Court (SC) against a stay order issued by the Delhi High Court (HC). The film's producer approached the apex court seeking an urgent hearing to set aside the HC's order that halted the film's release. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal within the next two to three days.
Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, representing the film's producers, brought the matter before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Bhatia pointed out that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had already cleared "Udaipur Files" for release, and theaters were fully booked. He argued that the Delhi High Court's intervention, just hours before the scheduled release on July 11, was a violation of fundamental rights. He also noted that the SC had previously declined to urgently hear a plea from an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case seeking to halt the film's release.
The Delhi High Court's stay order was issued on July 10, following a plea by Maulana Arshad Madani, the principal of Darul Uloom Deoband, and others. The petitioners argued that the film, which depicts the events surrounding Kanhaiya Lal's murder by alleged Islamic fundamentalists, had the potential to incite communal disharmony and stoke communal sentiments. They contended that the film was "replete with dialogues and instances" that could disrupt public order and undermine religious harmony.
The Delhi High Court directed the petitioners to approach the Central Government with a revision petition against the CBFC certification. The court ordered that the stay on the film's release would remain in effect until the Central Government made a decision on the revision application. The High Court instructed the Central Government to consider and decide on the revision petition within one week, after giving the producer an opportunity to present their case.
The film "Udaipur Files" centers on the brutal murder of Kanhaiya Lal, who was allegedly killed by Mohammad Riyaz and Ghouse Mohammad on June 28, 2022, in retaliation for a social media post supporting Nupur Sharma, a former BJP spokesperson. The assailants filmed the gruesome act and posted the video online, causing nationwide outrage. The film portrays these events and the circumstances surrounding the murder.
CBFC informed the High Court that the film had already undergone 55 cuts as directed by the board. The Centre has argued that the film is "crime-specific" rather than "community-specific".
Jashoda, Kanhaiya Lal's wife, has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to ensure the film's release so that "the whole world knows the truth". She claimed that Muslim organizations and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal influenced the court to stay the film. She stated that she had seen the film and found nothing objectionable in its depiction of her husband's murder. Kanhaiya Lal's son, Yash Teli, expressed his frustration that his father's killers remained unpunished after three years, while the film about his death was banned within days.