The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stay the release of the film “Udaipur Files – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder”, clearing the way for its theatrical release on Friday. The court said the petitioner failed to prove how the film’s release would cause any irreparable harm to it. Produced by Amit Jani, the film has been under scrutiny for allegedly portraying the Muslim community in a negative light.
Background of the film and previous bans
The film depicts the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur in 2022, which shocked the entire nation. The film, initially scheduled to release on July 11, was temporarily stayed by the Delhi High Court on July 10. Later, on July 21, the Centre allowed its release on the condition that six additional edits were made. However, the decision was withdrawn on August 1 and a fresh order on August 6 confirmed the film’s certification for public exhibition.
Petitioner’s plea and court observations
Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela heard a plea by Mohammad Javed, an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case. Javed sought a stay on the release till his challenge to the Centre’s August 6 order was decided. The court found no merit in his plea and said the release of the film would not compromise his right to a fair trial as judges give their verdicts based on evidence and not cinematic depictions.
Producer’s investment and balance of convenience
The bench also took note of the significant financial commitment of producer Amit Jani, who claimed to have invested his life savings in making the film. The court ruled that stopping the release at this juncture would upset the balance of convenience, which was found in favour of the producer. The court concluded that the petitioner failed to prove that the film’s release would cause any irreversible injury.
Next hearing scheduled for October
Rejecting the plea for interim stay, the court issued notice on Javed’s main plea challenging the Centre’s approval to the film. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 16. Javed’s legal team, led by senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, argued that the film used dialogues taken directly from the chargesheet and portrayed him as a conspirator, which could affect witnesses as the trial is still in its initial stages and only six of the 166 witnesses have deposed.
Centre and producer defend film
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Centre, said the decision to clear the film was taken after deep deliberations. Gaurav Bhatia, counsel for the producer, said the film had 61 cuts, included a revised disclaimer, and was made with the consent of the victim’s family. He stressed that the film was not intended to target any community but to send a positive message.
Trial status
The murder case is being tried in a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Jaipur under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The proceedings are still on, and most of the witnesses in the trial have not yet been heard.
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