Delhi HC stays release of 'Udaipur Files' for now

Delhi High Court on Thursday stayed the release of the film Udaipur Files, scheduled to hit the screens tomorrow, until the Centre decides on the pleas seeking its permanent ban.

A division bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal directed the petitioners to approach the Centre within two days with their grievance. The bench said the petitioners hadn't taken the recourse to approach the Central government.

"We provide that till the application for interim relief if made by petitioner along with revision petition is decided by government, release of the film shall remain stayed," the bench held.

During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged the judges to watch the file, terming it "vicious" and "cinematic vandalism".

The petitions, including one filed by Maulana Arshad Madani, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president and principal of Darul Uloom Deoband, have claimed that a trailer of the movie released on 26 June was replete with dialogues and instances that had led to communal disharmony in 2022, and carries every potential to again stoke the same communal sentiments.

"Where is this country going? This is not right for the country. Please don't let this kind of malicious work go in public. This is certainly not art. It's cinematic vandalism. Saying in national interest, in the interest of the fraternity," Sibal said.

He submitted that the producer had a history of making hateful incitements.

The bench observed the producer uploaded the trailer along with the portion that was ordered to be taken down. It also noted the submission of additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma, representing the film certification board, that necessary action warranted under law would be taken by the Central Board of Film Certification.

The bench directed the petitioner to approach the government latest by Monday.

"Once the petitioner approaches central govt by filing revision petition, same shall be considered and decided by government within one week and of course after giving opportunity to the producer," the court said.

The high court on 9 July directed the producers to arrange the screening of the movie for the petitioners.

Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal was murdered in June 2022 allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous.

The assailants had later released a video claiming the murder was in reaction to the tailor allegedly sharing a social media post in support of former BJP leader Nupur Sharma after her controversial comments on Prophet Mohammed.

The case was probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the accused were booked under stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, besides provisions under the Indian Penal Code. The trial is pending before the special NIA court in Jaipur.