The Supreme Court (SC) has deferred the hearing on the film "Udaipur Files - Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder" to July 21, 2025. The film is based on the 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor from Udaipur, Rajasthan. He was allegedly murdered by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous for sharing a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma, a former BJP leader who made controversial comments about Prophet Muhammad.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed the filmmakers to await the decision of a committee appointed by the Central government to address objections against the film. This committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 2:30 pm. The court has asked the committee to take an immediate decision on the issue.

The Delhi High Court had previously stayed the release of the film on July 10, 2025, until the Central Government decided on the revision application filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind against the certification granted to the film by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The filmmakers then challenged this stay order before the Supreme Court. The petitioners before the Delhi High Court argued that the film's release could disturb communal harmony and pose a threat to public order. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, representing Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, argued that the film vilifies the Muslim community.

The Supreme Court has allowed the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, Mohammad Jawed, to appear before the Central committee and directed the committee to accord him a fair hearing regarding his concerns about not receiving a fair trial. Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for an accused in the murder case, submitted that free speech cannot violate the right to a fair trial. The Court also noted concerns raised in Javed's plea, stating that the film could cause "irreversible prejudice".

Furthermore, the Supreme Court addressed the issue of threats received by the filmmakers and Kanhaiya Lal’s son. The court granted them the liberty to approach the Superintendent of Police (SP) or Police Commissioner in their respective jurisdiction for protection. The authorities were directed to assess the threat perception and take necessary steps to ensure their safety if a credible threat is found.

The film "Udaipur Files" was slated for release on July 11, 2025. Produced by Amit Jani and directed by Bharat S Shrinate, the film features actors such as Vijay Raaz, Rajneesh Duggal, Preeti Jhangiani, Kamlesh Sawant, Kanchi Singh, and Mushtaq Khan.

The Supreme Court observed that if the movie is released and later found to be problematic, no compensation would be available to the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case in terms of restoring their reputation. However, the filmmakers could be compensated monetarily if the film's release is delayed. The bench also stated that judicial officers are trained to deal with matters objectively and would not be swayed by a movie. Justice Surya Kant remarked that the more suspense there is around a movie, the better it does.