Udaipur- The upcoming release of the film Udaipur Files, scheduled for July 11 has sparked significant controversy in India, reigniting debates over freedom of expression, communal harmony, and the pursuit of justice. The film, based on the brutal murder of Kanhaiyalal Sahu, a tailor from Udaipur in June 2022, has faced legal challenges, with petitions filed in the Delhi High Court and other courts to halt its release.

In a recent update, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to urgently list a petition against the screening of the film, ahead of the scheduled date of its release. Before a bench comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Advocate Pyoli mentioned a petition filed by an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case against the film, contending that its release would violate his right to fair trial. She requested an urgent listing of the petition, saying that the film is due to be released on coming Friday.

Amidst this uproar, Yash Teli, the son of the slain tailor, has publicly defended the film, emphasizing that it is not targeted against any religion or community but serves as a voice against terrorism.

In response to the controversy, Yash Teli, Kanhaiyalal’s son, has emerged as a vocal advocate for the film. Speaking with media, Yash clarified that Udaipur Files is not directed against any specific religion or community but is a stand against terrorism. He emphasized that the film portrays the events of his father’s murder with sensitivity and factual accuracy, highlighting the terrorist conspiracy behind the act, which he claims involved individuals in both India and Pakistan. Yash urged the public to watch the film to understand the truth and support his family’s ongoing fight for justice. He expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the legal case, noting that the accused have not yet been sentenced to death, despite his family’s repeated demands for a fast-track court over the past three years.

Yash stated “Everything in this movie is based on true events. My family and I want the people of this country to see what happened to us and understand our pain.” He expressed uncertainty about the outcome of the legal petitions but maintained that the film’s release would allow the nation to learn the truth and join his family’s call for justice. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also backed the film, labeling opposition to it as “hypocritical,” while Kanhaiyalal’s family has actively opposed demands to ban its release.

The Brutality that shocked India

On June 28, 2022, Kanhaiyalal Sahu, a 40-year-old tailor in Udaipur, was brutally murdered in his shop by two men, Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous, who slit his throat and recorded the act on video. The killing was linked to a controversy surrounding alleged blasphemous remarks made by Nupur Sharma, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson, about Prophet Muhammad. Kanhaiyalal had reportedly expressed support for Sharma on social media, which led to threats against his life.

The perpetrators, later arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), were described as having extremist motives, with alleged connections to a broader conspiracy involving individuals in India and Pakistan. The NIA took over the investigation, arresting 11 individuals, including two Pakistani nationals allegedly involved in the plot. Despite these arrests, two of the co-accused have been released on bail, and the trial has progressed slowly, with no convictions secured as of July 2025, leaving Kanhaiyalal’s family frustrated with the judicial process.

The murder sent shockwaves across India, triggering widespread outrage, curfews, and internet shutdowns in Udaipur to prevent communal unrest. The case became a symbol of rising religious tensions, the dangers of online misinformation, and the challenges of ensuring justice in high-profile, sensitive cases. Three years later, the release of Udaipur Files has brought these issues back into the national spotlight.

The Udaipur Files Row: Delhi HC PIL

Maulana Arshad Madani, the President of the Islamic cleric's body Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Delhi High Court seeking a prohibition on the release of the film. As per the PIL, the trailer of the movie, released on June 26 on Youtube, is replete with dialogues and instances that had led to communal disharmony in the very recent past and carries every potential to again stoke the same communal sentiments. “That apart, a mere viewing of the trailer as released leaves no manner of doubt as to the plot of the movie as the trailer itself seeks to portray an entire community in a prejudicial manner, thereby violating the right to live with dignity for the members of the community,” said the plea, adding that the content of the trailer also deliberately makes references to the “sensitive” and “contentious” issue of the “Gyanvapi Masjid”, which is presently sub judice before the Varanasi District Court as well as the Supreme Court.

“The trailer contains dialogues and narrative elements that clearly fall within the ambit of hate speech directed against a particular community of the country and the language, imagery, and narrative adopted in the trailer are not only inflammatory but deliberately communal,” said the plea. The petition also challenges the certification granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to the movie for public exhibition, claiming violation of Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Guidelines for Certification of Films for Public Exhibition. Praying to quash the CBFC certification granted to the movie, the plea said that the trailer of the film portrayed a deeply divisive and inflammatory narrative that vilifies an entire religious community, and the release of the film “Udaipur Files” has the potential to inflame communal tensions and disrupt public order, severely undermining the fabric of religious harmony in the country.