15 July 2025 | New Delhi
In a critical intersection of cinema and constitutional rights, the Supreme Court of India will on 16 July 2025 hear a plea filed by Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the 2022 Kanhaiya Lal Udaipur murder case, seeking to restrain the release of the film “Udaipur Files – The Kanhaiya Lal Murder”. The petitioner contends that the film may compromise his right to a fair trial, with the matter now set for urgent hearing before a bench led by Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
The Accused’s Argument: “Trial By Cinema”
In his petition, Javed has argued that the film presents a one-sided narrative of the events surrounding the brutal murder of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal, and may prejudice the judicial process even before the trial is concluded. His lawyers maintain that the film—though certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)—attempts to portray him and other accused as “guilty beyond doubt,” without waiting for judicial determination.
“This is not artistic freedom; it is pre-judging a case that’s sub-judice,” the plea reportedly states.
The petitioner also claimed that releasing the film ahead of trial completion would violate Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair and impartial trial.
Simultaneously, the producers of Udaipur Files, Jani Firefox Media Pvt. Ltd., have approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s July 10 stay order, which barred the film’s release just hours before its scheduled premiere. Represented by Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, the filmmakers argue that the film had already undergone more than 50 edits and was cleared by the CBFC after a thorough review process.
“A certified film cannot be blocked at the eleventh hour. This is censorship without legal basis,” Bhatia submitted in court last week.
The filmmakers have invoked their freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a), arguing that courts cannot act as pre-release censors when statutory authorities have approved the content.
Delhi High Court Stay: Communal Concerns
On 10 July 2025, the Delhi High Court had granted an interim stay on the film’s release, following petitions that alleged the trailer promoted “religious polarisation” and could incite unrest during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra. The Court also directed the producers to conduct a private screening for the petitioners and advised them to seek revision under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, before the Central Government.
The High Court made it clear that while freedom of expression is protected, public order and communal harmony cannot be compromised.
