Udaipur Files, Supreme Court
Let Centre Decide First: Supreme Court To Hear On Monday Plea Against Stay On 'Udaipur Files', Allows Accused To Participate In Censor Review Hearing
|The Court deferred the matter in view of the certification review scheduled before the Centre at 2:30 PM today.
The Supreme Court today deferred hearing on a plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s interim order staying the release of the film Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal tailor murder, and permitted one of the accused in the 2022 murder case to be represented in the hearing before the Central Government on whether the film’s censor certificate should be withdrawn.
A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed, “Suppose they suggest there should be more cuts…there can be for or against points. Had it been a case that Centre was not taking up the matter, we could have. We can wait for a day or two since govt is taking it up. All of you are entitled to be heard by Union. Raise all contentions there. We will keep the petitions pending.”
At the outset, Justice Kant asked, “What happened to the statutory revision petition?” , to which Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal replied that the hearing before the Centre was scheduled for 2:30 PM today.
Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing for the film’s producers, argued that the Delhi High Court’s stay was unjustified, stating, “I am questioning the legality of the High Court’s order, as I was holding a valid certificate issued by a statutory authority. 55 cuts were recommended and I complied with all. Yet, they approached the High Court at the last moment, without disclosing their own credentials.”
Justice Kant responded, “The High Court has, if not exhaustively, examined the statutory provisions. They expressly said they are not expressing anything on merits. The Centre can still say more cuts are required, that would be a separate order.”
Bhatia submitted that the film was due to release in 12 hours when the High Court passed the stay at 8 PM. “Theatres were booked. I’ve already lost six days. There’s also a piracy risk now. If the decision comes tomorrow, I can still release it,” he said.
Justice Kant replied, “This request is partly unreasonable. Authorities may want to watch the film before considering the allegations. An interim arrangement is already in place.”
Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for the accused Mohammad Javed, said the film directly touches upon two matters that are currently sub-judice. “Today, there is a claim for speech which borders on hate… that violates the fair trial rights of my client,” she said.
Justice Kant said, “If there is a conflict between Article 19 and Article 21, Article 21 must prevail. But if someone has a genuine apprehension, they deserve to be heard.”
Kapil Sibal added, “When the High Court asked us, I watched the film myself. I was shaken to the core. Any judge watching it would see it as a full-blown theme of hate against a community. There’s not a single positive portrayal…only associations with homosexuality, judicial bias, mistreatment of women and child abuse. That a democratic nation certified this is unimaginable.”
In response, Bhatia said, “The person was beheaded and the video was circulated. I’ve edited and reviewed the film, none of the sensitive content is shown. The focus is on radicalisation and its impact on families.”
Bhatia also informed the Court that threats had been received by the producer and director of the film and the son of the murdered tailor. “The director and producer have received death threats. An FIR has been lodged. Two arrests have been made. They should be granted protection,” he said. The Court granted liberty to approach the concerned Superintendent of Police or Police Commissioner, who shall assess the threat and take appropriate steps if necessary.
The Court was informed that the Central Government has constituted a committee to hear the objections against the film and that a hearing was scheduled for today at 2:30 PM. Taking note, the Bench said, “In these circumstances, we find it appropriate to defer further hearing to await the outcome of the proceedings before the Central Government.”
It also directed, “We permit Mohammad Javed to be represented by counsel in the hearing before the Centre. The Committee must grant him a hearing as well. We expect that the matter will be decided immediately, without any delay.”
The matter will next be heard on July 21.
Background
On July 10, 2025, the Delhi High Court stayed the release of the film Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal tailor murder, which was set to release on July 11. The stay came in response to petitions, including one by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, alleging that the trailer, released on June 26, could incite communal disharmony. The High Court noted that the Petitioners had not approached the Centre and directed them to do so within two days, but still restrained the release in the meantime and asked the producers to screen the film for the Petitioners.
On July 9, the Supreme Court refused to urgently hear a plea by Mohammed Javed, an accused in the 2022 Kanhaiya Lal murder case, seeking to stall the film’s release until completion of the Trial. The Court had then said, “Let the film be released.”
Following the High Court’s stay, the film’s producers approached the Supreme Court. On July 15, a Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi agreed to hear their challenge, with the producers arguing that the stay order violates their rights despite CBFC certification and causes them financial harm.
The 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, allegedly for supporting Nupur Sharma’s remarks, was investigated by the NIA and is currently under trial in a special court in Jaipur.
Cause Title: Mohammed Javed v. Union of India & Ors. (W.P.(C) No. 647/2025)