Centre to withdraw order granting release of film Udaipur files, Delhi HC told

The Centre on Friday (August 1, 2025) informed the Delhi High Court that it was withdrawing its decision granting nod to the release of the film Udaipur Files – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder, and will take a decision on the revision petitions “afresh”.

The court, which was hearing two pleas challenging the Centre’s decision allowing the release of the movie, directed the parties to appear before the government on August 4 and make their submissions.

The court was informed by the counsel for the film’s producer that the movie is scheduled to be released on August 8 and they would take some time for making arrangements for releasing it by engaging the theatres.

The court took on record statement by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Central government as also the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), that the government will withdraw the earlier decision granting nod to the release of the film and “take a decision on the revision petitions preferred by the petitioners afresh”.

Noting the submissions, the court disposed of the two petitions filed by Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani.

The Centre’s counsel had said the film has undergone a two-step filter, first by the censor board, which suggested 55 cuts, and second by the committee, which further asked for six cuts, totalling 61 cuts.

Javed’s counsel objected to the release of the film on the ground that it would prejudice his case during the trial.

Kanhaiya Lal, an Udaipur-based tailor in Rajasthan, was murdered in 2022, allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous, for sharing a social media post in support of former BJP leader Nupur Sharma after her controversial comments on Prophet Mohammed. The trial is pending before the special NIA court in Jaipur.