The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on July 19, 2025, applied the Delhi High Court’s recent directive to stay the release of the controversial film ‘Udaipur Files’, effectively halting its release in Madhya Pradesh as well.
The order came from Justice Pranay Verma while hearing a petition filed by two social workers, Vishal and Abid Hussain Barkati. The petitioners alleged that the film contained offensive and derogatory remarks against the Muslim community and Prophet Muhammad. They sought not only a stay on the film's release but also the registration of FIRs against the movie’s cast and crew.
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At the beginning of the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel referred to the Delhi High Court judgment passed on July 10, 2025, in the case Maulana Arshad Madani vs. Union of India & Ors., reported as 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 776.
“In my opinion, the issue raised in this petition has already been dealt with therein in extenso. Hence, this petition is also disposed of in terms of the order passed by the High Court of Delhi… The said order shall be applicable mutatis mutandis to the case of the petitioners also,”— Justice Pranay Verma, Madhya Pradesh High Court
The Delhi High Court had earlier stayed the release of the film, which was scheduled to be released on July 11, 2025, while allowing Islamic clerics' body Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and others to approach the Central Government for revision against the CBFC certificate issued for the film.
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“Till the application for grant of interim relief is decided by the Government, if moved by the petitioner, there shall be a stay on the release of the film.”— Delhi High Court Direction
The Delhi High Court had clarified that Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act allows even third parties to apply for revision and directed the government to resolve such applications within one week.
Meanwhile, the issue has also reached the Supreme Court where two petitions are pending:
- A writ petition filed by one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, and
- A petition filed by the filmmakers challenging the Delhi High Court’s stay order.
On July 16, 2025, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing, noting that the Central Government was scheduled to hear the revision pleas related to the film's certification the same day at 2:30 PM. As of now, the release of Udaipur Files remains on hold.
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Background:
The film is based on the brutal June 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli in Udaipur, allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous. The accused had posted a video claiming the killing was in retaliation to a post shared by Kanhaiya Lal in support of Nupur Sharma’s controversial remarks about Prophet Muhammad.
The case is being prosecuted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code provisions. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is handling the investigation, and the trial is ongoing before a Special NIA Court in Jaipur.