The Centre is weighing legal action over the release and public screenings of Diljit Dosanjh-starrer ‘Satluj’, with government sources claiming the film was made available without obtaining a valid certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).According to sources, the CBFC had recommended 127 cuts during the certification process. However, the filmmakers allegedly chose not to implement the suggested changes, following which the film was not granted a censor certificate.Despite the absence of certification, ‘Satluj’ was released on Zee5 and has reportedly been screened publicly at several locations. The government is now examining the matter and considering legal options, sources said, as reported by India Today. The report further claimed that state governments have been instructed to take action against any unauthorised public screenings of the film taking place without the mandatory CBFC clearance.The latest development comes days after Advocate Vineet Jindal moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court over the reported screenings of ‘Satluj’. On Saturday, Jindal shared a copy of his letter petition on X, formerly Twitter, stating that he had sought immediate judicial intervention against those allegedly organising the screenings. Jindal wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “A letter petition has been filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking immediate directions to prevent the illegal streaming and unauthorized public screening of the film Satluj in the State of Punjab. By this Letter petition before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, I am seeking appropriate action against individuals, religious organisations, and political parties involved in organising illegal public screenings of the film. Such screenings are allegedly being used to promote violence and spread hatred against a community as well as the security agencies.”The controversy escalated after ‘Satluj’ disappeared from Zee5 in India just two days after its release. The streaming platform removed the film, which is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, citing only “current circumstances” without providing any additional explanation.In response to the takedown, several community organisations announced plans to screen the film at gurdwaras across five states. The initiative, they said, was aimed at ensuring that Khalra’s story continued to reach audiences despite its removal from the OTT platform.At the same time, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking the restoration of ‘Satluj’ on Zee5. The petition contends that the film was removed without any publicly disclosed statutory, judicial or governmental order and seeks both its reinstatement on the platform and a disclosure of the reasons behind its removal.
