New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the producers of the film ‘Udaipur Files’ to arrange a private screening for the petitioners seeking a ban on its release. The court's direction came after the filmmakers asserted that all objectionable content had been removed from the final version.

The film, which is based on the 2022 murder of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal, has come under scrutiny over concerns that it could stoke communal tensions and disturb public order. The petitioners argue that the trailer, released on June 26, contains provocative material that could trigger unrest similar to what occurred in the aftermath of the original incident.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal asked the producers to arrange the screening on Wednesday itself and scheduled the next hearing for Thursday. The direction was issued after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) informed the court that the contentious scenes and dialogues had been edited out.

What are the concerns of petitioners over releasing the movie Udaipur Files

One of the key petitions was filed by Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and principal of Darul Uloom Deoband. He contended that the film’s trailer included scenes that not only misrepresented facts but also portrayed an entire community in a prejudicial light, thereby violating constitutional protections under Articles 14, 15, and 21.

The movie reportedly depicts elements from the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, in which the tailor was killed in June 2022 by two men — Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous — who later released a video claiming the attack was retaliation for Lal allegedly sharing a post supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma after her controversial remarks about the Prophet Mohammed.

The case was investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the accused were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The trial is currently ongoing before a special NIA court in Jaipur.

The petitioners have argued that while the murder was carried out by two radical individuals, the film seeks to link the crime to an entire religious community.