The Supreme Court on Wednesday postponed its hearing on the release of the controversial film Udaipur Files, citing the pending outcome of a review petition before a committee formed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B).
The bench scheduled the next hearing for Monday, allowing time for the committee—set to meet at 2:30 PM on Wednesday—to consider objections raised by Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the Udaipur murder case.
The court also permitted the filmmakers and the son of the victim, Kanhaiya Lal, to seek police protection if any credible threat perception arises. Authorities have been directed to assess the request and provide security if necessary.
The film is based on the June 2022 killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan, allegedly carried out by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous, who later released a video claiming the act was in retaliation for a social media post by the victim supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, whose remarks on Prophet Mohammed had sparked nationwide controversy.
The Supreme Court’s deferral comes amid ongoing legal and public scrutiny regarding the film’s potential impact on the ongoing Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) trial and broader communal sensitivities.
