The Supreme Court adjourned till July 24, the petitions related to the film ‘Udaipur Files,’ based on the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli in Udaipur, Rajasthan, after the Union government said it has passed an order requiring six changes in the movie.
The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi today directed that the interim order against release of the film will continue till further orders.
On July 16, 2025, the Apex Court deferred hearing on the plea filed by the producers of the movie challenging the Delhi High Court’s interim stay on the release of the film, in view of a scheduled certification review before the Central government that afternoon. The Bench granted liberty to all parties to raise their objections before the Centre, including an accused in the murder of Kanhaiya Lal, who had also filed a writ petition against the release of the movie.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta apprised the Bench that the state had passed an order.
Appearing for the accused in the murder of Kanhaiya Lal, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy said they would contesting the order.
The SG pointed out that any step more than what the State had done may lead to infringement of Article 19. He added that this was his ‘personal’ opinion.
Representing the producers of the movie, Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia submitted that they have carried out the six changes suggested in the movie by the Central government.
The Bench told him that changes would have to be made unless the order was challenged by the producers.
Senior Advocate Bhatia apprised the Court about the petitions pending before different High Courts on the same film.
Appearing for the petitioner before the High Court, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal apprised the top court of the country that the High Court has not passed any order in view of the Delhi High Court’s verdict in the matter.
On July 16, 2025, the Apex Court deferred hearing on a plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s interim stay on the release of the film, in view of a scheduled certification review before the Central government that afternoon. The Bench granted liberty to all parties to present their contentions before the Centre.
The producers of the movie earlier sought urgent listing of their plea, saying that the film’s release was stayed by the High Court despite the Censor Board certification.
On July 10, the Delhi High Court stayed the release of ‘Udaipur Files’ till the Centre decided on pleas seeking a permanent ban on the film over its potential to “promote disharmony” in society.
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