The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred till July 21 the hearing on the release of the controversial film Udaipur Files – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder and directed the filmmakers to await the decision of a panel set up by the Centre to address objections against the movie.
A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that while the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case cannot be compensated for reputational damage if the film is released, the filmmakers can be compensated monetarily if the release is delayed.
The film’s release, initially scheduled for July 11, was stayed by the Delhi High Court on July 10 after petitions claimed it could incite communal disharmony. One such petition was filed by Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and principal of Darul Uloom Deoband.
The apex court directed the Centre’s committee to hear all parties, including the accused, and take a swift decision without delay. The panel was scheduled to meet at 2:30 pm on Wednesday.
Udaipur Files is based on the June 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous, who claimed it was retaliation for a social media post supporting former BJP leader Nupur Sharma. The NIA is investigating the case, and trial is ongoing in a special NIA court in Jaipur.
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