SC to hear pleas on ‘Udaipur Files’ after HC stay halts film’s release
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear petitions related to the controversial film Udaipur Files, on Wednesday, which has sparked legal and political debate ahead of its release.
The film, based on the brutal murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan, in June 2022, was scheduled for a global release on July 11. Lal was killed by Mohammad Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad, who slit his throat in a widely condemned act of violence.
A bench of Justices Suryakant and Joymala Bagchi will hear two petitions, one filed by the film’s producer Amit Johnny challenging the Delhi High Court’s interim stay on the release, and the other by Javed, an accused in the murder case, who argues the film could impact the fairness of the ongoing trial.
The Delhi High Court had halted the release a day before its scheduled premiere, raising concerns over the teaser’s online publication without approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The teaser, uploaded on June 26, reportedly included content the CBFC had earlier ordered to be removed.
Though the CBFC granted clearance for the film on June 20 and certified a revised trailer on July 2, the High Court found fault with the producer’s decision to release an uncertified teaser. The court viewed this as a serious lapse.
Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia, representing the filmmakers, sought an urgent hearing in the Supreme Court, stressing that the Delhi High Court had stayed the release at 8 p.m. on the eve of its scheduled launch.
Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has filed a plea in the Supreme court, requesting that no decision be made without hearing their views. Other petitioners opposing the film have also approached the Centre, urging it to maintain the stay and ensure that the matter is dealt with fairly and impartially.
