The release of Udaipur Files was stayed within three days following an appeal by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind. Meanwhile, it’s been three years since the brutal daylight beheading of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur! The act was not only executed with precision and cruelty but also filmed and proudly uploaded by the two accused.
The murder sent shockwaves through the nation, yet justice remains painfully elusive. While those responsible showed no remorse, the system appears paralyzed by its need to play it safe. As controversy surrounds Udaipur Files – a film based on this real-life horror – Bharat asks when does justice for the dead truly begin? At what cost does the truth get its day in court?
Kanhaiya Lal Killers Roam Freely While Family Awaits Justice
Kanhaiya Lal’s murder on 28th June 2022 in Udaipur. It was the first of the “peaceful” violence that was documented as a hate crime in recent Indian history. The killers, Mohammad Riyaz and Ghouse Mohammad, posed as customers. Thereafter, they brutally murdered the man and recorded it as a boastful act of ideological revenge.
The video of Kanhaiyalal’s cold-blooded murder was circulated widely on social media, complete with threats to repeat the act against anyone who supported Nupur Sharma.
The case has overwhelming evidence – a video confession, weapons, and motive. However, the trial is yet to conclude. Meanwhile, Kanhaiyalal’s family lives in constant fear, and his son walks barefoot in hopes of receiving closure and justice from the Indian Courts. Reports indicate they continue to be under threat, facing a mixture of social isolation, police protection, and psychological trauma. For them, the ordeal that began with Kanhaiyalal’s death is far from over – every delay is not just legal; it is emotional torture.
Bharat’s lawmakers cannot be blind to the glaring contrast – confessed killers enjoying a slow, cautious trial with bail while the victim’s family waits in silence and fear!
Analysts ask whose safety the system is truly prioritizing?
Udaipur Files Stay – A Pattern of Selective Sensitivity?
While caution in sensitive cases is understandable, in this case the judiciary’s deference appears unbalanced. In this instance, The Udaipur Files seeks to narrate a documented crime. However, while the Supreme Court refused to stay the release of the movie, the Delhi High Court issued a stay. Why? The judges cited concerns of potential communal disharmony. Analysts suspect influence of Kapil Sibal and his ecosystem in the ruling!
“Peaceful” Petitioners, including influential clerics and journalists, argue that the film amounts to “hate speech” – a claim that itself deserves scrutiny.
The response of the petitioners lies in sharp contrast to their silence on the original murder and crime. There were no calls from this “peaceful” ecosystem to ensure swift justice or express outrage over the barbarity of the act. Instead, the murderers and their family enjoy “Ghazi” status in their community! Their sole focus is on controlling the narrative around the murder rather than the murder itself.
The accused roam free on bail. There is no sense of urgency – no sign of fast-track trials, and no institutional empathy for a Hindu family scarred by ideological “peacefuls” hate. This differential treatment, where narratives are monitored more rigorously than justice, is the bane of Indian society! Analysts state that the Judiciary’s concern about “peaceful” unrest is unsettling to the Hindu majority!
Udaipur Files Caught Between Law and Silence
The Cinematograph Act, which governs film certification and public exhibition, is now being invoked to curb content that is based on court-evidenced fact. The producers of The Udaipur Files have made over 50 cuts, complied with CBFC instructions, and yet the film’s release is stayed.
While the real footage of the killing and its unholy celebration was circulated freely for days before being taken down from the internet, the Udiapur Files faces “peaceful” ecosystem’s bans and threats!
Art, when responsibly made, is a form of civic memory. The Udaipur Files is a tool to keep Kahaiyalal’s memory alive while provoking a deeper reflection within the community. The reluctance to let The Udiapur Files face public scrutiny in the light of day suggests not just fear, but perhaps a misplaced priority!
The ecosystem is silencing the truth to exert control over catharsis.
More troubling is that the Judiciary, wary of post-release tensions, prefers playing safe to playing fair! In doing so, it inadvertently sends a message that fear of “peaceful” communal unrest can override the right to narrate reality.
Final Word
Kanhaiya Lal’s murder wasn’t a grey area; it was a public, deliberate, and hate-fuelled crime.
Yet, his family continues to live in the shadow of their trauma and delayed justice. They also watch helplessly as the justice system treads with caution around those who celebrated his death. With a stay on The Udaipur Files – what message is sent to the Hindus of Bharat? Shall truth be censored and justice be delayed out of fear of “peaceful” riots?
When even the act of remembering a victim becomes contentious, perhaps it is not just justice, but also our collective courage that is on trial.