Supreme Court declines urgent plea to halt release of 'Udaipur Files' despite trial concerns
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to urgently list a plea seeking a stay on the release of the controversial film Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder, effectively allowing its scheduled release on July 11.
The petition was filed by Mohammed Javed, the eighth accused in the 2022 Udaipur murder case, who argued that the film’s release during the ongoing trial would prejudice his right to a fair trial. Javed’s counsel, Advocate Pyoli, urged Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi to list the matter for immediate hearing.
However, the bench declined early listing and directed that the matter be placed before the appropriate bench after the court reopens on July 14, missing the July 11 release date.
The film, directed by Bharat S. Shrinate and featuring Vijay Raaz in the lead role, dramatizes the 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor killed by two Muslim men in Rajasthan’s Udaipur for his social media support of controversial BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. The brutal killing, recorded on video, sparked nationwide outrage and communal tensions.
The petitioner claims the film, based on its trailer and promotional content, is communally charged and risks compromising the impartiality of the judicial process. He cited Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, urging the Centre to revoke the film’s certification in the interest of public order.
The film was originally titled Gyanvapi Files, referencing the disputed mosque-temple site in Varanasi, but was later renamed to Udaipur Files.
Prominent Muslim organization Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has also moved the High Courts in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat seeking a stay, alleging the film spreads Islamophobic content, endangers communal harmony, and propagates a Hindutva agenda.
Reliance Entertainment, the film’s distributor, has come under fire for supporting a project accused of vilifying an entire community through polarising narratives.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
