No Dedicated NIA Judge Or Hearing For 6 Months: Justice Elusive For Udaipur Tailor Kanhaiya Lal

News18

2 days ago

Despite the severity and national attention surrounding the murder, reportedly only six of 166 witnesses have been examined so far, though the victim's son pegs the number at 14-15
More than three years after the gruesome beheading of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal shocked India, the trial in the case remains caught in the slow churn of India's judicial machinery.
Despite the severity and national attention surrounding the murder, reportedly only six of 166 witnesses have been examined so far, though the victim's son Yash claims the number stands at 14-15. As controversy over the movie The Udaipur Files bring back public attention to the 2022 case, News18 looks back at the incident and why justice is moving at a snail's pace.
A CRIME THAT SHOOK THE NATION
It was June 28, 2022, when Kanhaiya Lal Teli was murdered in broad daylight in his tiny shop in a serpentine lane in Old Udaipur by Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad—both of whose links have been established with Pakistan. The attackers filmed the brutal act and streamed it online, claiming it was retaliation for a social media post where Kanhaiya Lal expressed his support for now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, whose derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad had sparked global controversy.
The chilling nature of the attack and its ideological motivation triggered massive outrage and communal tensions across India. Within days, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe, treating it as a terrorist attack.
THE SLOW LEGAL JOURNEY STARTS
In the months following the murder, the NIA arrested not only the two main assailants but also nine others believed to be part of a radical Islamist network that aided or influenced them. A chargesheet running over 1,000 pages was filed in January 2023, invoking stringent sections under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and IPC 302 (murder).
Despite the NIA's swift investigation, the case has languished in court. The proceedings in the Special NIA Court in Jaipur in the matter remain intermittent.
WHY THE DELAY?
A combination of factors is believed to have contributed to the slow pace of the trial.
Complexity of the Case: With 11 accused, a mountain of evidence, including digital videos and forensic data, and 166 witnesses, the proceedings were destined to be lengthy from the very beginning.
Judicial Backlog: Like many Indian courts, the special NIA court too grapples with a shortage of judges, frequent adjournments, and scheduling delays.
Procedural Interruptions: A judge's transfer led to a six-month halt in this particular hearing, further stalling momentum.
Political and Social Sensitivity: Given the communal undertones of the case, authorities too are treading carefully to prevent any missteps while going with their versions to court to avoid public unrest.
Recently, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government to criticise the delay, pointing out that only six witnesses have deposed since the case began. 'This is not justice. It's an insult to the victim and his family," Gehlot said. The murder took place during Gehlots' rule.
WHEN JUSTICE LOOKS DISTANT
It has been three years since Kanhaiya Lal's son, Yash Sahu, has been walking barefoot as a mark of protest. 'I won't wear footwear till my father gets justice," he tells News18. A state minister who visited their house in Udaipur brought footwear for him but failed to make him wear it.
'On one hand, you have a murder where you have the perpetrators committing the crime, which is recorded. On the other, you have the CBI court handling additional cases of NIA which is why the delay. Some of my depositions are also due. There are over 150 witnesses and those who are examined so far are barely 14-15. If this pace continues, we don't think we will ever get justice," Yash said.
WHAT LIES AHEAD?
The trial continues in the Special NIA Court, with hearings set to resume after the court's summer break. However, unless procedural efficiency improves, the path to justice for Kanhaiya Lal's family remains painfully uncertain.
'Look, there have been 166 witnesses from the prosecution side. Those examined barely touched double digit. One of the biggest issues we faced and in future too we will face is repeated demand for adjournments by advocates of defendants. Another issue that stalled the case so far was no dedicated NIA judge," Vikramaditya Ujjwal, personal advocate of the complainant, told News18. This July, the Rajasthan High Court administration appointed Pravendra Pal Singh as the judge of special NIA court that is handling the case.
Now, with public focus shifting to the film The Udaipur Files based on the murder, bodies like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad too are trying to get involved. After Delhi High Court issued a stay on the movie, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal questioned the contrast of pace between the actual case where it is stretching for three years and counting and the case where the stay was ordered within weeks.
For now, the family of Kanhaiya Lal Teli hopes the row over the movie brings back the forgotten case of their father in public discourse. But, will it help them legally?
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news18 specials Udaipur Killing
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Location :
Udaipur, India, India
First Published:
July 12, 2025, 12:33 IST
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