Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind Moves Delhi High Court Against Release Of Film 'Udaipur Files' Based On Kanhaiya Lal Murder Case, Cites Communal Tension

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking ban on the release of film “Udaipur Files” slated to hit the theaters on July 11, on the grounds of hate speech and communal harmony.

The plea, filed by Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, further challenges the certification granted by CBFC to the movie for public exhibition.

It has been submitted that the trailer of the movie is replete with dialogues and instances that had led to communal disharmony and therefore carries the potential to again “stoke the same communal sentiments.”

“The movie, purported to be the story of the murder of one Kanhaiya Lal in 2022, in fact unabashedly depicts court scenes, the statement made by a sitting Chief Minister supporting one party in the case and also explicitly mentions the controversial statement made by a politician - Nupur Sharma - which had resulted in communal violence and, in turn, the gruesome murder of Kanhaiya Lal,” the plea states.

It adds that the trailer seeks to portray an entire community in a prejudicial manner, violating the right to live with dignity for the members of the said community.

“It is stressed that the trailer of the movie, and by implication the movie that is set to follow, depicts verbatim the same content (comments against Prophet Mohammad PBUH) which was uttered by Nupur Sharma resulting in nationwide communal unrest as well as registration of various FIRs against her,” the plea submits.

Furthermore, the plea that the release of the has the potential to inflame communal tensions and disrupt public order, resulting in vilifying an entire religious community.

It adds that artistic expression, no matter how evocative, cannot be permitted to become a vehicle to crush fraternity and uproot the ethical foundations of the nation as enshrined in the Constitution.

Apart from seeking ban on release of the film, the plea also seeks a direction on the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take immediate and measures for removal of the trailer from all digital and social media platforms.

Title: MAULANA ARSHAD MADANI v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.