Delhi HC stays release of 'Udaipur Files' pending Centre's review

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday temporarily stayed the release of the film 'Udaipur Files', which is based on the 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan, until the Union government decides on a revision petition challenging the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) clearance of the movie.

The film, scheduled for a worldwide release on Friday, depicts the gruesome killing of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur by Mohammad Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad, who slit his throat in a widely condemned act of violence.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal was hearing multiple petitions, including one filed by Maulana Arshad Madani, President of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind. The plea called for the revocation of the CBFC certification, arguing that the film’s release could provoke communal unrest and undermine religious harmony, in violation of Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the guidelines for public film exhibition.

The court has permitted petitioners and members of the public to file revision applications within two days under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, which empowers the Central government to revoke a film’s certification or impose interim restrictions on its exhibition. The court directed the government to decide on the revision pleas within a week after granting an opportunity for the producer to be heard. Any request for interim relief must also be considered during this process.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the court recorded the statement of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, who said that the CBFC had recommended specific cuts to the film prior to certification, which the producer had implemented.

The court had also instructed the film’s producer to conduct a private screening of the full film and its trailer for the counsels involved. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 10.

With IANS inputs