'Udaipur Files' Director Claims Death Threats A Day After Film's Release

New Delhi: ‘Udaipur Files’ producer Amit Jani has claimed that he received death threats soon after the release of the film across the country on Friday. The release of the film, starring Vijay Raaz, was delayed over censorship concerns. It is directed by Bharat S Shrinate and Jayant Sinha.

Jani has claimed he was getting “repeated calls” from an unknown number, with the caller threatening to kill him either with a bomb or shoot him. He has urged authorities to investigate the matter.

“+971566707310 number se lagatar aaj bomb se udaane ki, goli maarne ki dhamki aur gaali galauch ki jaa rhi hai , Ye khud ko Bihar ka rahne wala bata rha hai khud ka naam Tabrej bata rha hai ispar mukdma kayam karke isko giraftar kiya jaye (Constantly receiving calls from the number +971566707310. The caller, who claims that his name is Tabrez and he is from Bihar, is threatening to kill me in a bomb attack or shoot me dead. A case should be registered against him, and he should be arrested).”

‘Udaipur Files’, is based on the 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan’s Udaipur. Mohammad Riaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad allegedly walked into his shop in broad daylight, posing as customers, before slashing his throat. They filmed the whole incident and circulated the clip. Lal was apparently murdered for liking and forwarding a controversial post by former BJP leader Nupur Sharma.

The gruesome act sparked nationwide outrage and renewed debates on radicalisation. Attari and Ghaus were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and are currently facing trial in a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jaipur. The case was transferred to the NIA from Rajasthan Police during the initial probe. Some others have also been arrested in this connection.

Jani had received death threats in the past as well, following which he was granted Z-category security by the Centre in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. His security detail involves 8-10 armed commandos with 2-3 of them covering him at all times.

‘Udaipur Files’ was to be released on July 11, but came up against legal hurdles over its contents. The film was finally cleared by the courts after some cuts.