Made Six Cuts To 'Udaipur Files' Film, Re-Certification Pending: Producer To Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Monday (July 28) was informed by the producers of the film'Udaipur Files : Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder' that six cuts have been made to the movie, and the re-certification of the movie is still pending. 

After being informed of the same the court listed the matter for hearing on July 30. 

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was dealing with the pleas filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani and Mohammed Javed (one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case) objecting to the film's release.

On July 25 the Supreme Court had asked the parties objecting to the release of the movie to approach the Delhi High Court to challenge the Centre's revisional order which approved the movie's exhibition with 6 edits.

The Court requested the High Court to take up the matter on coming Monday (July 28) itself for a preliminary hearing.

After hearing the parties for some time the court in its order dictated:

"Let all the petitions be connected. In item 42, a request is made on behalf of the petitioner counsel that the matter be adjourned today. On a query as to whether the movie is re-certified after the order passed by the central government on the revision petitions, we have been informed that after the order passed by central government, an application was made by the producers before the CBFC which is likely to be considered shortly. In view of the aforesaid, list on Wednesday". 

During the hearing senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy appearing for the accused in the murder case, pointed to the Supreme Court's order. 

It orally said to Guruswamy "You also invoke Section 6 (Cinematograph Act)? Pursuant to 21 July order, whether certification has been redone?"

It further asked ASG Chetan Sharma appearing for the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) if the movie has been re-certified. To which the ASG said that the film has been approved with some cuts.

Meanwhile senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia appearing for the producer submitted, "Six cuts and one disclaimer. That has been done. The certificate is still due". 

The court however orally remarked, "Please don't get overwhelmed. Argue matter with ease. I just want to know you submitted for recertification. That has not been done. You can exhibit the film only after recertification. There is no urgency today. We can hear this on Wednesday.You say that (certification) is pending. You can exhibit film only after certification. Therefore we can hear you day after tomorrow."

For context, the Supreme Court had asked the parties to approach the High Court to challenge the Centre's revisional order which approved the movie's exhibition with 6 edits.

Kanhaiya Lal Teli, an Udaipur-based tailor, was brutally murdered in June 2022, allegedly by one Mohammad Riyaz and one Mohammad Ghous. 

The perpetrators later released a video claiming the murder was in retaliation for Kanhaiya Lal allegedly sharing a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma, former BJP spokesperson, soon after she made controversial comments about the Prophet.

The case was investigated by the National Investigation Agency, and offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Indian Penal Code framed against the accused. While the trial is progressing before a Special NIA Court in Jaipur, the movie - based on the case - is sought to be released.

On July 10, the Delhi High Court stayed the release of the film, allowing the petitioners before it to approach the Central Government in revision against the certification granted by the Central Board of Film Certification. 

The order was passed in a batch of pleas, including a plea filed by the Islamic cleric's body, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani, which contended that it was communally divisive.

On July 21, the Supreme Court was informed by the Centre that it had passed an order on the petitions seeking revision of CBFC certification granted to the movie. 

As per the Centre's order, 6 changes to the contents of the film were suggested by an expert committee and the same were accepted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The changes included - a more detailed disclaimer clarifying that the film was an artistic work and that it did not endorse violence or defamation of any community, changes to the credit cards, revision of an AI-generated scene depicting a Saudi-Arabia style turban, replacement of the name "Nutan Sharma" with a new name, removal of a dialogue of Nutan Sharma that she stated whatever was written in the religious texts, and removal of an exchange between characters Hafiz and Maqbool.

In this backdrop, the Supreme Court had given time to the parties to file their objections to the Centre's order.