Overview
- Students at NALSAR University of Law organised a private screening of Prisoner No. 626710 is Present on September 23 that the university says was not authorised and drew about 30–40 attendees.
- The documentary remains uncertified by the Central Board of Film Certification and the CBFC has said public exhibition of an uncertified film violates the 1952 Cinematograph Act unless a formal exemption is granted.
- Earlier planned campus screenings at IIIT‑Hyderabad and NLSIU Bengaluru were cancelled after the CBFC flagged the issue and IIIT issued disciplinary warnings to eight students linked to the proposed event.
- Organisers in Pune, Nashik and Mumbai reported police warnings and venue pressure telling them screenings would be illegal, which led to multiple cancellations and to some events being converted into invite‑only or secret showings.
- Supporters say the screenings are acts of solidarity over Umar Khalid’s prolonged pre‑trial detention, while ABVP and BJP have demanded inquiries and possible disciplinary or legal action, raising questions about campus autonomy and uneven enforcement of the law.