The Supreme Court addressed the contentious film "Udaipur Files" on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, refusing to lift the stay on its release and directing the Central government to make a decision regarding the film's fate "immediately". The hearing has been postponed until July 21, 2025.
The film's release, originally scheduled for July 11, 2025, was stalled after the Delhi High Court issued a stay on July 10, 2025. The High Court's decision was based on petitions asserting that the film's trailer could "promote disharmony" and referenced the 2022 murder of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal, which is still under investigation by the NIA. The petitioners argued that the film sensationalizes the tragic incident, carries the risk of fueling communal tensions, and is poorly timed with upcoming elections.
Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi presided over the Supreme Court bench handling the case. The court acknowledged that the Centre is already reviewing the film and decided to wait for its decision. The bench has asked the Centre's committee to expedite the decision-making process regarding the film's release. "We expect that the committee will decide the revision plea immediately without any loss of time. Post the matter for further consideration on July 21," the Court stated.
The filmmakers challenged the Delhi High Court's order, arguing that the stay violates their rights after they invested in the movie and received certification from the censor board. Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, representing the filmmakers, had appealed for an urgent hearing, stating that the theaters were set to screen the film on July 11, 2025, but the High Court stayed the release on July 10, 2025, at 8 PM.
The petitioners against the film's release include Mohammad Javed, an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal Teli murder case, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani. They presented their concerns to the Centre, contending that the film could incite communal disharmony and prejudice Javed's right to a fair trial. Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing Mohammad Javed, argued that the film's release would affect his right to a fair trial. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Maulana Arshad Madani, informed the court that the Union Government would hear the matter on July 16, 2025.
The Supreme Court has directed authorities to provide security to the film's producer, director, and Kanhaiya Lal's son, following reports of death threats. The court allowed them to make a representation to the local SP/Commissioner of Police, who were directed to assess the threat perception and take necessary preventive measures.
The "Udaipur Files" is based on the 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal Teli, a tailor from Udaipur, who was allegedly killed by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous for sharing a social media post supporting Nupur Sharma, a former BJP spokesperson who made controversial comments about the Prophet Muhammad. The case is currently under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with the accused booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
