The Central government on Friday informed the Delhi High Court that it is withdrawing its earlier decision granting approval for the release of the controversial film ‘Udaipur Files – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder’, which was scheduled to hit theatres on August 8.
The development came during the hearing of two petitions challenging the Centre’s July 21 nod to the film’s release. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was told by the Centre’s counsel that the government would revisit the decision and issue a fresh order in accordance with the Cinematograph Act.
The High Court directed the parties to the revision proceedings — including petitioners Mohammed Javed and Maulana Arshad Madani of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind — to appear before the revisional authority on August 4. The court emphasized that no adjournments would be entertained and instructed the authority to decide the matter by August 6.
The court disposed of the petitions after noting the Centre’s decision to withdraw the prior order.
Court Questions Centre’s Legal Authority
Earlier in the day, the bench questioned the legal basis on which the Centre ordered six additional cuts to the film while exercising its revisional powers under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act. The court reminded the government that such powers must be exercised strictly within the statutory framework and not exceed it.
The Centre’s counsel explained that the film had already gone through a two-stage review — first by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which suggested 55 cuts, and then by a revisional committee that recommended six more cuts along with a modified disclaimer.
Petitioners Cite Prejudice to Fair Trial
Petitioner Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the 2022 Udaipur murder case, argued through his counsel that the film’s release would prejudice his right to a fair trial. The film’s producers have publicly stated that the script is based on the official chargesheet, including direct lifts of its dialogues, further intensifying concerns about potential judicial bias.
The other petitioner, Maulana Arshad Madani, supported the plea for restraint, arguing that the government’s manner of granting clearance contravened the statutory scheme of film certification.
Background: A Case That Shocked the Nation
The film depicts the gruesome killing of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal in June 2022. He was allegedly murdered by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous, who later posted a video claiming the act was revenge for the tailor’s social media post in support of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probed the case, invoking the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The trial is currently pending before the special NIA court in Jaipur.
Supreme Court’s Earlier Intervention
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the petitioners to approach the Delhi High Court after staying the film’s release. On July 25, the top court observed that the producers’ appeal against the stay had become infructuous, as they had accepted the Centre’s approval with the suggested cuts and disclaimer modifications.
