Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind moves Delhi High Court against Udaipur Files movie on Kanhaiya Lal murder

Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani has moved the Delhi High Court to stop the release of the movie ‘Udaipur Files’ which is based on tailor Kanhaiya Lal Sahu's murder in Udaipur [Maulana Arshad Madani Vs Union Of India & Ors]..The movie is slated for release on July 11.As per the petition, the trailer of the movie portrays that the murder of Sahu was committed with the complicity of the leaders of the Muslim community and such a narrative could create a serious wedge between Hindus and Muslims.“The trailer seeks to portray an entire community in a prejudicial manner thereby violating the right to live with dignity for the members of the community. The movie is of highly provocative nature, capable of creating a wedge between the communities which may cause serious disturbance to public peace and public order across the country,” the petition states..According to the petitioner, the movie portrays a deeply divisive and inflammatory narrative that has the potential to inflame communal tensions and disrupt public order. “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.”Further, the movie also amplifies the controversial statement made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma which had resulted in nationwide communal unrest. “By reviving and amplifying content that has previously led to communal unrest, the film undermines the spirit of fraternity and endangers the secular and pluralistic fabric of the nation, warranting urgent judicial intervention,” the petition states. .Further, the movie shows highly objectionable scenes showing Muslim clergy having homosexual relations with underage children.“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,” it has been stated. .The petitioner has therefore, sought directions for prohibiting the release, distribution, broadcast or public exhibition of the movie. The petition has also sought directions to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to take immediate measures for removal of the trailer of the movie from all digital and social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and X.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.The petition is likely to be listed for hearing on July 9, Wednesday.