On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the Supreme Court refused to urgently list a plea challenging the screening of the movie 'Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal' which is based on the tailor murder case. The Court remarked, "Let the film be released," allowing the movie’s release to proceed without immediate judicial intervention.
Supreme Court Declines Urgent Hearing
A Bench led by Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi responded to concerns raised by a lawyer representing one of the accused in the murder case. The lawyer argued that the upcoming release of the film, scheduled for July 11, along with its trailers already circulating, could potentially influence the ongoing trial and compromise the accused’s right to a fair hearing.
Plea Filed by Accused Raises Concerns Over Fair Trial
As per a report in The Hindu, the Bench declined to prioritize the case immediately, stating, “Let the film be released. You mention the plea before the regular bench upon reopening (of the court after summer vacation).”
Mohammed Javed, who is one of the accused in the case, asked the court to stop the film from being released until the trial is finished. He said the movie’s trailer and ads seem to create communal tension and that showing the film now, which makes the accused look guilty, could harm the ongoing trial.
Background of the Kanhaiya Lal Murder Case
In June 2022, Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor from Udaipur, Rajasthan, was killed in a hate crime by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous. The attackers later posted a video claiming the murder was retaliation for a social media post Lal allegedly shared supporting former BJP leader Nupur Sharma, following her controversial remarks about Prophet Muhammad. The National Investigation Agency took charge of the investigation, charging the accused under the strict Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) as well as relevant Indian Penal Code sections. The case is currently being heard in a special NIA court in Jaipur.
Supreme Court Declines Urgent Hearing
A Bench led by Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi responded to concerns raised by a lawyer representing one of the accused in the murder case. The lawyer argued that the upcoming release of the film, scheduled for July 11, along with its trailers already circulating, could potentially influence the ongoing trial and compromise the accused’s right to a fair hearing.
Plea Filed by Accused Raises Concerns Over Fair Trial
As per a report in The Hindu, the Bench declined to prioritize the case immediately, stating, “Let the film be released. You mention the plea before the regular bench upon reopening (of the court after summer vacation).”
Mohammed Javed, who is one of the accused in the case, asked the court to stop the film from being released until the trial is finished. He said the movie’s trailer and ads seem to create communal tension and that showing the film now, which makes the accused look guilty, could harm the ongoing trial.
Background of the Kanhaiya Lal Murder Case
In June 2022, Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor from Udaipur, Rajasthan, was killed in a hate crime by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous. The attackers later posted a video claiming the murder was retaliation for a social media post Lal allegedly shared supporting former BJP leader Nupur Sharma, following her controversial remarks about Prophet Muhammad. The National Investigation Agency took charge of the investigation, charging the accused under the strict Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) as well as relevant Indian Penal Code sections. The case is currently being heard in a special NIA court in Jaipur.
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