The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Delhi High Court to hear on July 28 the petitions challenging the Central Government’s approval for the release of the controversial film Udaipur Files – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder. The film is based on the gruesome killing of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal in 2022.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi held that the appeal filed by the filmmakers against the High Court’s earlier stay order had become infructuous, as they had already accepted the Centre’s modified approval granted on July 21. The approval permits the release of the film with six scene cuts and changes in the disclaimer.
Clarifying its stance, the bench said it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and left it to the Delhi High Court to decide on the issue of granting or maintaining the stay on the film’s release.
The apex court advised Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani and Mohammad Javed — one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case — to approach the High Court with their grievances against the Centre’s clearance.
The Delhi High Court had earlier, on July 10, stayed the release of the film while considering a representation filed by Madani under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The court had asked the Centre to decide on the representation within a week.
According to the filmmakers, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had granted a certificate with 55 suggested cuts, and the film was initially scheduled for release on July 11.
The film deals with the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal, who was killed in June 2022 allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous. The attackers later released a chilling video, claiming the act was retaliation for a social media post by the victim in support of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, whose remarks about Prophet Mohammed had sparked nationwide outrage.
