Sons of Kanhaiya Lal watch ‘Udaipur Files’, say: ‘Three years later, we still have no justice’

Jaipur: The sons of Kanhaiya Lal, the Udaipur tailor who was brutally murdered in 2022, attended a special screening of Udaipur Files on Friday--a film based on the harrowing events surrounding their father’s death. The emotional screening in Udaipur also served as a powerful reminder of the family’s ongoing demand for justice, as the case continues to languish in court.

The screening was marked by a poignant tribute: a seat left vacant in honour of Kanhaiya Lal, with his photograph placed between his two sons, Yash and Tarun. As the film’s most disturbing scene, depicting the beheading, played on screen, the brothers were visibly emotional, moved to tears in remembrance.

“After a long struggle, the movie is finally out. For three years, we have been fighting for justice, but we have not received it yet. We hope the people of India will support us to ensure that the accused are punished swiftly,” one of the sons said following the screening.

Case still pending

Directed by Bharat S. Shrinate, Udaipur Files features actors including Vijay Raaz and Preeti Jhangiani, and retraces the chilling events of June 2022. Kanhaiya Lal was attacked in broad daylight at his tailoring shop in Udaipur’s Hathipole area by two men posing as customers. The brutal murder was filmed and circulated online, sparking national outrage.

Though the assailants were arrested within hours, the case has seen limited progress under the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which took over the probe on the night of the incident.

Public support and political questions

Several members of the audience expressed solidarity with the family during the screening, with slogans demanding swift justice echoing through the cinema hall.

Amid renewed public focus brought on by the film, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot questioned the delay in the trial process. Speaking to reporters in Jaipur, Gehlot criticised the Union Home Ministry, asking why the case has not yet progressed despite being under NIA jurisdiction for over three years.

“Our police apprehended the accused within four hours. The NIA took over the case the same night. Yet the agency has not even recorded witness statements or taken the trial forward,” he said.

Gehlot also alleged that the BJP had used the case for political mileage during the 2023 state elections and the 2024 general election campaigns, despite what he described as swift action and adequate compensation from the previous Congress-led government--including Rs 50 lakh in financial support and government jobs for both of Kanhaiya Lal’s sons.