New Delhi, India – July 28, 2025 – The Delhi High Court has listed the petitions concerning the controversial film ‘Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder’ for hearing on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The court was informed on Monday that a fresh CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) certificate for the movie has not yet been issued, a prerequisite for its release.
A division bench comprising Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela stated clearly that the film cannot be released without a valid CBFC certificate. Given that an adjournment was sought by the parties, the bench agreed to list the matter for two days later.
During the Monday hearing, the bench specifically inquired whether a re-certificate had been issued by the CBFC. It was informed that while an application for a fresh certificate has been made by the film’s producers, following cuts recommended by the Central government on July 21, the updated certificate is still awaited.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, representing the Central Government, and senior advocates Gaurav Bhatia and Pulkit Agarwal, appearing for the film’s producer, pressed the court to hear the matter, asserting that no stay had been granted by the Supreme Court on the movie’s release.
Conversely, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, along with Advocate Piyoli, represented Mohd. Javed, an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case who is currently out on bail. She vehemently argued that the movie should not be released as it would severely prejudice his right to a fair trial and posed a significant apprehension about the safety of his life. During a heated exchange among counsel, the bench intervened, requesting them to present their arguments one by one and to “keep it simple.”
Background of the Legal Battle
The Supreme Court had on July 25, 2025, directed the petitions concerning the film to be heard by the Delhi High Court. This followed an earlier order by the High Court itself, which had directed the parties to approach the Central government for a revision of the CBFC’s certification. The film producer has since made the changes recommended by the Central government and applied for the new certificate.
On July 10, the Delhi High Court had initially ordered a stay on the release of ‘Udaipur Files,’ which was originally scheduled to hit theatres on July 11. This stay was put in place until the Central Government decided on a revision application filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind against the initial certification granted by the CBFC.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal had passed that interim order while hearing two petitions – one by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and another by journalist Prashant Tandon – both challenging the CBFC’s decision to grant certification to the film.
The petitioners had consistently argued that the film’s release could disturb communal harmony and posed a serious threat to public order, considering the highly sensitive nature of the Kanhaiya Lal murder case it depicts. The High Court had then observed that since the petitioners were pursuing a revisional remedy under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the film’s release must remain stayed until a decision was made on their application for interim relief.
The movie is based on the brutal murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor in Udaipur, Rajasthan, in June 2022. He was killed in broad daylight by two men who allegedly retaliated against a social media post supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. The incident had ignited national outrage and raised serious concerns about radicalization and communal violence.
The petitioners maintain that the film sensationalizes the incident and has the potential to further inflame communal tensions. They have also expressed concerns over the timing of its release, particularly ahead of upcoming elections in several states. While the Court has avoided delving into the merits of the film’s content itself, it has focused on ensuring that the legal procedure for challenging CBFC certification is meticulously followed and that no irreparable damage occurs in the interim period.
Meanwhile, the film’s director, Bharat Shrinate, has reportedly announced an August 8, 2025 release date, claiming that the Supreme Court has cleared legal hurdles. However, the current Delhi High Court proceedings and the awaited CBFC re-certification indicate that the legal battle is far from over for ‘Udaipur Files.’