The Delhi High Court on Monday scheduled for July 30 the hearing of two petitions challenging the Central government’s approval for the release of the controversial film “Udaipur Files – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder”.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela listed the matter for hearing on Wednesday after one of the petitioners sought an adjournment. During the brief hearing, it was also brought to the court’s attention that the film’s producers have applied to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for re-certification, which is expected to be reviewed shortly.
The petitions have been filed by Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, and Mohd Javed — one of the accused in the 2022 murder of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal. The Supreme Court had earlier directed the petitioners to approach the High Court for relief after disposing of a plea by the filmmakers against an earlier stay on the film’s release.
On July 25, the apex court deemed the filmmakers’ appeal infructuous as they had already accepted the Centre’s July 21 clearance for the film’s release, which was conditional on six scene cuts and modifications to the disclaimer.
Udaipur Files is based on the brutal killing of Kanhaiya Lal in June 2022, allegedly carried out by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous. The assailants filmed themselves claiming responsibility for the murder, stating it was in retaliation for the victim’s purported social media post in support of then-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, following her controversial remarks about Prophet Mohammed.
The case, investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), involves charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The trial is currently ongoing before the special NIA court in Jaipur.
