Entertainment News | CBFC Flags Proposed Screening of Umar Khalid Documentary at IIIT-Hyderabad
Get latest articles and stories on Entertainment at LatestLY. The documentary, titled ‘Prisoner No. 626710 is Present’, directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, was proposed to be screened by a group of students at the KRB Auditorium on Friday at 8 PM. The film focuses on Khalid and his arrest in 2020.
New Delhi [India], September 18 (ANI): The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has raised an objection to the proposed screening of a documentary on jailed scholar and activist Umar Khalid at the International Institute of Information Technology-Hyderabad (IIIT-Hyderabad).
The documentary, titled ‘Prisoner No. 626710 is Present’, directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, was proposed to be screened by a group of students at the KRB Auditorium on Friday at 8 PM. The film focuses on Khalid and his arrest in 2020.
Also Read | Lady Gaga, Michael Polansky Welcome Baby Girl via Surrogacy and Her Name Has a Special Meaning.
The CBFC, in a post on X, said that a film that has not received certification cannot be publicly screened unless a specific exemption has been granted under the Cinematograph Act.
“Public screening of a documentary film that has not yet been certified by the CBFC is a violation of the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption has been sought under the Act,” the CBFC said.
Also Read | Millie Bobby Brown, Jake Bongiovi Welcome Second Baby via Adoption, Couple Shares First Glimpse.
The board also tagged IIIT-Hyderabad and asked the institute to take note of the matter for necessary action. “Authorities of @iiit_hyderabad may take note for necessary action,” it wrote.
https://x.com/CBFC_Bharat/status/2100433306609389682?s=20
The documentary, made by Lalit Vachani, follows the case of Umar Khalid, a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) scholar, who was arrested in September 2020 in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy case related to the northeast Delhi riots. He faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other provisions and has remained in custody since his arrest.
The development comes days after a proposed screening of the same documentary at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru was postponed. The postponement followed opposition from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The ABVP delegation, led by Mahanagara President Ramesh M, Secretary Abhinandan Mirji and Joint Secretaries Dhanush Gowda and Ananya, met the Union Minister at Raj Bhavan and raised concerns over the screening programme. In its memorandum, ABVP demanded intervention to ensure that the postponed documentary screening on Umar Khalid is permanently cancelled.
It said, "Issue instructions to the NLSIU management to revoke all permissions permanently, ensuring the documentary is not screened on campus under any circumstances." (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)