On Monday, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that it has proposed six cuts to the film “Udaipur Files – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder”.

“In my personal view, any further action beyond what has been recommended by the competent authority would violate Article 19. I have reviewed the order,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi.

Senior advocate Gaurav Bhati, representing the filmmakers, argued that the Centre was exercising its revisionary authority and had suggested six cuts to certain scenes in the film, which have been adhered to.

Justice Kant advised Bhatia that the film producers must follow the directives to cut the scenes unless they choose to contest the order.

Senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy, representing the accused Mohd Javed, who is seeking a stay on the film’s release, argued that the interim stay should remain in effect until the apex court resolves the matter.

The bench decided to extend the stay until further notice and scheduled the next hearing for July 24.

On July 16, the Supreme Court instructed the filmmakers to wait for the decision from the Centre-appointed panel that is addressing objections to the film.

The Supreme Court noted that while the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal tailor murder case could not be compensated for reputational damage if the film is released, the filmmakers could receive monetary compensation.

On July 10, the high court had stayed the film’s release following a plea from Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, invoking the Central Government’s powers under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, until the Central Government resolves the representation, for which the high court allowed one week.

The Supreme Court had instructed the Centre’s panel to make a prompt decision after hearing all parties involved and mandated that the accused in the murder case be given a hearing.

The highest court has instructed the local police superintendent to evaluate the threat level and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the family members of filmmakers and the son of a tailor who have reportedly been threatened.

The filmmakers asserted that they received a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate, which included a recommendation for 55 cuts, and the film was scheduled for release on July 11.

The highest court noted that even though the film had obtained the CBFC certificate, the Centre retains the authority to recommend additional cuts or even prohibit the film’s screening, and it is essential to await the decision from the appropriate authority.

Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor from Udaipur, was killed in June 2022, allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous.

The attackers subsequently released a video stating that the murder was a response to the tailor allegedly posting on social media in support of former BJP member Nupur Sharma, following her controversial remarks about Prophet Mohammed.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigated the case, and the accused were charged under the strict Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, in addition to relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The trial is currently ongoing in the special NIA court located in Jaipur.