• Source:JND
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The release of the film Udaipur Files has been put on hold by the Delhi High Court just a day before it was set to hit cinemas. The court issued the stay order after hearing a petition that raised concerns over hate speech and alleged violation of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) guidelines.

The petition was jointly filed by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani and journalist Prashant Tondon. They requested the court to stop the film from being released permanently, claiming it could disturb communal peace and harmony.

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The matter was heard on Thursday by a bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal. The hearing lasted for over five hours. During the proceedings, the bench observed that the teaser of the film had been shared online even before getting CBFC approval, which raised legal concerns.

Although the CBFC gave a certificate to the full movie on June 20, issues arose when the teaser was uploaded on June 26. The court noted that certain scenes which were meant to be removed as per the CBFC's instructions were still being circulated on social media. The final trailer was certified on July 2, but only after edits were made. The CBFC has also issued a notice to the filmmakers for using content that had not been cleared.

According to a NDTV report, Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, criticised the film and called it an example of hate speech. He pointed out scenes showing Muslim men throwing meat at Hindu religious places and students being arrested, which he said had no connection to the real incident—the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur. Sibal argued that the film could provoke unrest.

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Defending the film, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma said the movie had gone through 55 cuts and was protected under Article 19(1)(a), which guarantees freedom of speech. He stated the film focused only on the killing of Kanhaiya Lal and should not be judged beyond that.

The court said it could hear the case even if the petitioners had not first gone to the Centre. However, it directed the central government to review the film and take a decision within a week. The stay on the film’s release will remain in effect until further notice.