CBFC Informs Delhi High Court of Removal of Objectionable Content from ‘Udaipur Files’

Just a day before it was set to release, the Delhi High Court ordered a stay on the screening of Udaipur Files, a film based on the 2022 beheading of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur.

The petitioners, Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, and journalist Prashant Tondon, demanded a permanent ban on the film, alleging it spreads hate speech and targets a specific community, potentially inciting communal unrest.

Court Criticises Certification Violation

The division bench, comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal, held a hearing over five hours and directed the Centre to decide within a week whether the film should be allowed to release.

The court noted that the film’s producer had released a teaser without certification.

It was also observed that although the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared the trailer with cuts on July 2, parts of the unapproved teaser had already been uploaded on June 26. The full film received CBFC clearance on June 20.

The bench said that some scenes, which CBFC ordered to be cut, were circulated on social media. This action violated the Cinematograph Act.

Petitioners Argue Film Incites Hate Speech

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioners, stated that the movie represents “the worst form of hate speech.” The bench noted that the film could “pose an imminent threat to public order and harmony.”

The court acknowledged its jurisdiction to intervene in such cases but emphasized that the petitioners should have approached the central government under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act first.

Previous Arrests Related to the Film

Udaipur Police had recently arrested two people for calling for a boycott of the film.

Meanwhile, Maulana Arshad Madani confirmed he had filed stay petitions in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat High Courts. However, the Supreme Court declined to stay the release.

Controversial Producer Behind the Film

The man behind the Vijay Raaz-starrer Udaipur Files is producer Amit Jani, known for his involvement in several contentious political and communal incidents.

Jani gained notoriety in 2012 when he vandalized a statue of former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati. His outfit, Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena, was modelled after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

History of Legal Controversies

Amit Jani, from Meerut, has a long list of legal cases. In February 2012, he was booked for showing black flags to politicians Ajit Singh and Rahul Gandhi.

In 2016, he was arrested for threatening JNU leaders Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, and in 2017, he posted hoardings asking Kashmiris to leave the state. He was again arrested for sharing a morphed image of the Taj Mahal with saffron flags.

In 2018, following BJP’s Assembly poll losses, his outfit was booked for displaying “Yogi versus Modi” hoardings.

A 2019 sign at his Noida hotel barred Kashmiris following the Pulwama attack. That same year, he declared a Lok Sabha ticket for Shambhulal Regar, who had similarly killed a man in 2017.

In 2017, Jani launched the Shivpal Yadav Youth Brigade, later becoming the youth wing president of Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia).

He more recently launched the Hindu Action Force. His 2022 election affidavit listed 14 pending criminal cases in multiple cities.

Film and Family of Kanhaiya Lal

Despite the controversy, Kanhaiya Lal’s family has publicly supported the film and participated in its promotion alongside Jani.

Arshad Madani stated the trailer contains the controversial remarks by Nupur Sharma, which worsened communal tensions and harmed India’s international image.

Kanhaiya Lal was murdered on June 28, 2022, by Mohammad Riyaz and Ghouse Mohammad, who posed as customers and killed him over a social media post supporting Nupur Sharma. The brutal murder was recorded and went viral.

Political and Public Reactions

SP MLA Abu Asim Azmi raised concerns in the Maharashtra Assembly, suggesting that the film’s release could trigger law-and-order issues. He also introduced a Private Member’s Bill to penalise those promoting religious division.

In Rajasthan, Congress and BJP have clashed over the case. Former CM Ashok Gehlot criticized the delay in justice, highlighting that no punishment had been delivered even after three years of trial.

As the controversy continues, the film remains unreleased, with the central government expected to take a final call in the coming days.