The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has flagged a proposed screening of a documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid at the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-Hyderabad), citing a potential violation of the Cinematograph Act. The documentary, titled 'Prisoner No. 626710 is Present', directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, was intended to be shown by a group of students at the institute's KRB Auditorium on Friday evening. Sources indicate that the students have decided to cancel the screening following the CBFC's warning.

The CBFC posted on X that public screening of an uncertified film would violate the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption had been obtained. It also tagged IIIT-Hyderabad, urging the institute's authorities to take necessary action. The CBFC operates under the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry. IIIT-H has categorically denied any involvement in the proposed screening, stating that neither the institute nor any of its recognised student bodies had organised or hosted the event. The institute clarified that such activities, if they occurred, would not represent the views or activities of the institution.

The development follows a similar incident at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru, where a planned screening of the same documentary was postponed after opposition from the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The ABVP had argued that allowing the screening would amount to using the campus for political propaganda. The student committee at NLSIU postponed the event citing 'logistical and security considerations', while maintaining that the decision was not due to external pressure.

The documentary focuses on Umar Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University research scholar arrested in September 2020 in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the northeast Delhi riots. Khalid has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other provisions and has remained in custody since his arrest. The invitation for the IIIT-Hyderabad screening referenced 'Political Prisoners' Day' and the anniversary of the death of Jatindra Nath Das, a revolutionary associated with Bhagat Singh, who died in Lahore jail in 1929.

The CBFC's warning and IIIT-H's denial highlight the legal and institutional complexities surrounding the screening of politically sensitive content. The cancellation of the event underscores the influence of regulatory bodies and student groups in shaping the discourse around such topics. The situation remains uncertain regarding future attempts to screen the documentary, with no indication of a formal response from the CBFC or IIIT-Hyderabad.