SC refuses to halt release of film ‘Udaipur Files’, to hear matter on Jul 14

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to urgently hear a plea by one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case seeking a stay on the release of the film “Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder”, stating that the petition can be mentioned before the appropriate Bench when the court reopens on July 14.

A vacation Bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused early listing of the matter, effectively clearing the decks for the film’s release on Friday, July 11.

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Appearing for accused Mohammed Javed, counsel argued that the trailer — released on July 4 — projects the film as a “true story” and presents only the prosecution’s version, thereby prejudicing the petitioner’s right to a fair trial. “It is releasing on Friday. The trailer portrays it as a true story. They are showing only the prosecution side,” the counsel submitted.

The Bench, however, was unmoved. “Mention before the court concerned on reopening. Let it be released,” it remarked.

A separate plea has also been filed in the Delhi High Court by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani, expressing concern that the film could incite communal unrest. Madani has also written to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry seeking a halt to the trailer’s release.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has informed the High Court that “offending portions” had been removed from the film. The court has directed the producers to organise a screening for Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal (appearing for Madani) and ASG Chetan Sharma (for CBFC).

The petition before the Supreme Court contends that the trailer portrays the murder of Kanhaiya Lal as being committed with the complicity of Muslim leaders — a depiction the petitioner says could inflame communal tensions. “The trailer seeks to portray an entire community in a prejudicial manner, thereby violating the right to live with dignity for the members of the community,” the petition states.

It further argues that the content is “highly provocative” and may interfere with the ongoing proceedings before the Special NIA Court, where the trial is underway.

“Releasing such a trailer at this juncture, portraying the accused as guilty and the story as conclusively true, has the potential to seriously prejudice the ongoing proceedings,” the petitioner said, urging the top court to restrain the release and cancel the censor certificate granted by the CBFC.

Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor in Udaipur, was brutally murdered on June 28, 2022, by two men who recorded the act and circulated the video online. The attack was allegedly in retaliation for a social media post supporting BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who had made remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

The case was probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with 11 persons arraigned as accused.