08-07-2025
Top Muslim body approaches High Court, seeks stay on release of Udaipur Files
Maulana Arshad Madani, President of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, has filed a petition before the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain the release of the film Udaipur Files, scheduled to hit theatres on July film is based on the 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal Sahu in Udaipur. The matter is expected to be heard on Wednesday, July to a report in Bar and Bench, the petition raises serious concerns over the content of the movie's trailer, alleging that it portrays the killing of Sahu as being carried out with the complicity of Muslim community leaders. According to the petitioner, this narrative is not only misleading but also has the potential to incite communal
"The trailer portrays an entire community in a prejudicial light, violating the right to live with dignity guaranteed to all citizens," the plea states. It describes the film as "highly provocative" and capable of inciting communal tensions and disturbing public petition goes on to assert that the film presents a "deeply divisive and inflammatory narrative," including references to the sensitive and sub-judice matter of the Gyanvapi Masjid, which is currently pending before both the Varanasi District Court and the Supreme Court of India.'The content of the trailer not only appears to specifically target the Muslim community, by depicting a highly prejudicial and distorted view in order to promote a complete breakage of fraternity, cause communal disharmony, but also deliberately references the sensitive and contentious issue of the Gyanvapi Masjid, which is presently sub judice before the District Court of Varanasi as well as before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India,' the petition objections were raised regarding the film's alleged amplification of controversial remarks previously made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma, which had sparked nationwide unrest. The petitioner contends that by reviving these issues, the film endangers the secular and pluralistic character of Indian petition also strongly objects to scenes in the film that purportedly depict Muslim religious figures engaging in homosexual acts with underage boys, calling such depictions "highly objectionable" and harmful.'Artistic expression, no matter how evocative, cannot be permitted to become a vehicle to crush fraternity and uproot the ethical foundations of the nation as enshrined in the Constitution,' the petition Madani has requested the court to issue directions prohibiting the release, screening, distribution, or public exhibition of the film. Additionally, the petition urges the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to ensure the immediate removal of the film's trailer from all digital and social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).Apart from director and producer of the movie, the petition has also added the distributor, Reliance Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Google, X and Meta as the parties.- EndsMust Watch
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