The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Thursday put on hold the release of the controversial Punjabi film, Kaum De Heere , based on the assassination of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, following concerns raised by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
“The film will not be released on Friday. The decision has been taken as per Rule 32 of the Cinema Certification Rules, 1983,” an official said. The instruction was issued after Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chairperson Leela Samson watched the movie.
“The Home Ministry had earlier conveyed its concerns to the I&B Ministry, and asked it to consider withholding the release,” said an MHA official. The recommendation was made on the basis of intelligence reports on the possibility of violence in some States, following objections raised by the Youth Congress and some Hindu organisations.
Both the Congress and the BJP recently objected to the alleged “glorification of the killers of the former Prime Minister” in the film. Congress representatives had raised apprehension that the film might trigger violence, and demanded that it be banned.
However, the film-makers denied the charges.
The CBFC had cleared the movie under the adult category after several cuts, they said.
The film, which had been awaiting clearance from the Board for the past few months, is learnt to have been released abroad.
The film-makers have denied allegations that bribes were paid to the suspended CBFC CEO Rakesh Kumar, who was recently arrested by the CBI on graft charges, to clear the film.
