Published Sep 17, 2026 | 9:00 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 17, 2026 | 9:12 PM
Umar Khalid
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has objected to a proposed screening of a documentary on student activist Umar Khalid organised by students at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Hyderabad.
The documentary, titled Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, is based on the life of Umar Khalid, who recently completed six years in judicial custody without trial. He has been accused in the alleged larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi violence.
The proposed screening was scheduled for September 18 at the KRB Auditorium on the campus. The event was planned to mark Political Prisoners Day, which is observed in India on September 13.
In a post on X on Thursday, September 17, the CBFC objected to the screening, claiming that it would violate the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The board called on the IIIT Hyderabad administration to take necessary action.
“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. Authorities of @iiit_hyderabad may take note for necessary action,” the CBFC said in a post on X.
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. Authorities of @iiit_hyderabad may take note for necessary action. pic.twitter.com/KeZlkbqrFn
— CBFC केंद्रीय फिल्म प्रमाणन बोर्ड (@CBFC_Bharat) September 17, 2026
The move drew criticism on social media, with several users pointing out that the screening was a private event and arguing that the Act may therefore not apply.
The incident came just days after students at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) were forced to postpone a screening of the same documentary following protests by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The screening, organised by the Law and Society Committee (LawSoc), a student organisation at NLSIU, was scheduled for September 14.
In a statement issued on September 13, LawSoc said the screening had been postponed due to “logistical and security concerns.”
“The postponement is a precautionary step taken to ensure that the screening can be held in a safe and responsible manner,” the organisation said, adding that it would make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the event could be held “safely and without compromising the well-being of the student community.”
The organisation said the screening would be held during the current trimester but did not specify a date.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
Also Read: Umar Khalid documentary screening at NLSIU postponed amidst ABVP protest
