The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to stay the release of the film ‘Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal tailor murder’, which was scheduled for theatrical release on July 11.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi responded to an urgent mention by the counsel for the film’s producers, who argued that the Delhi High Court had restrained the release despite the film having received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
“We have invested in the film and obtained all necessary approvals, but the High Court’s stay order infringes our rights,” the counsel argued, seeking urgent listing of the matter on Tuesday. The apex court, however, stated that it would hear the matter on Wednesday or any day thereafter.
The Delhi High Court on July 10 had stayed the release of the film until the Centre decides on multiple petitions demanding a permanent ban, citing the film’s potential to incite communal disharmony. The court asked the petitioners to approach the Union government within two days, noting that such a step had not yet been taken.
Among the petitioners before the High Court was Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president and Darul Uloom Deoband principal Maulana Arshad Madani. The plea alleged that the trailer, released on June 26, contained inflammatory content linked to the 2022 communal tensions and could reignite unrest.
The film, centered on the June 2022 killing of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal, portrays events surrounding his murder by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous. The duo allegedly acted in retaliation for a social media post by the victim supporting former BJP leader Nupur Sharma, whose remarks on Prophet Mohammed had sparked nationwide controversy. The assailants filmed the killing and posted the video online.
The case is currently under trial in a special NIA court in Jaipur. The accused face charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code provisions.
Earlier, on July 9, the Supreme Court had declined an urgent hearing on a plea filed by Mohammed Javed—one of the accused in the murder case—seeking a stay on the film’s release. At that time, the bench had orally remarked, “Let the film be released.”
The producers of the film have contended that the petitioners have misinterpreted the content and claimed that the trailer was being taken out of context. The High Court had earlier directed that a screening of the film be arranged for the petitioners.
