# NALSAR students screen Umar Khalid docu after cancellations

2026-09-24T23:56:46+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

A group of students at NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad screened the documentary 'Prisoner No. 626710 is Present' on jailed activist Umar Khalid on Wednesday evening, despite the film lacking certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The screening was a private event restricted to students, organised in solidarity after similar screenings were cancelled at IIIT-Hyderabad and NLSIU Bengaluru. The documentary, directed by Lalit Vachani, traces Khalid's journey from student activist to his arrest in 2020 under the UAPA for his alleged role in the 2020 Delhi riots. NALSAR vice-chancellor Prof Srikrishna Deva Rao said the university did not authorise the screening and no official permission was given. The CBFC had earlier stated that screening an uncertified film would violate the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption was obtained. The ABVP condemned the 'unauthorised' screening, demanded a transparent inquiry, action against those responsible, and clear guidelines for future campus events. The students who organised the screening said it was meant to engage with questions about rights, accountability and the human cost of prolonged incarceration.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Siasat and Times of India report the screening as a student-led solidarity event, while Telangana Today leads with ABVP's condemnation and demands for action. The NALSAR vice-chancellor's denial of authorisation is common to all three, but only Telangana Today foregrounds the political context of the film's subject. The coverage shows the event as a flashpoint between student activism and institutional and statutory controls, with the CBFC's stance on uncertified screenings providing the legal backdrop. The ABVP's call for guidelines and the vice-chancellor's denial suggest the university may now enforce stricter event protocols.

## Coverage

- siasat.com (neutral report) <https://www.siasat.com/nalsar-university-students-screen-documentary-on-umar-khalid-3547771/>
  Leads with student solidarity framing, reports facts without judgement
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/nalsar-students-screen-umar-khalid-docu-after-screenings-cancelled-at-iiit-h-nlsiu/articleshow/134469569.cms>
  Reports screening and quotes students, includes VC denial
- telanganatoday.com (government critical) <https://telanganatoday.com/abvp-condemns-screening-of-umar-khalid-documentary-at-nalsar>
  Leads with ABVP condemnation, frames screening as unauthorised

Tags: CBFC, IIIT Hyderabad, Lalit Vachani, NALSAR, Umar Khalid
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