Centre To Refer Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Satluj’ To IT Rules Panel After ZEE5 Takedown

The Centre will refer Diljit Dosanjh-starrer film "Satluj" to an Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) constituted under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 for detailed examination and further action, government sources said on Tuesday.

The development comes two days after streaming platform ZEE5 was directed to remove the film from its platform over security concerns . The movie, earlier titled "Punjab '95" , was released on July 3 under the new title "Satluj" but was taken down on July 5.

Directed by Honey Trehan , the film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra , who investigated the alleged cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab during the turbulent period of militancy between 1984 and 1994. Khalra was abducted in 1995 and later disappeared. Four Punjab Police personnel were convicted for his abduction and murder in 2005, with their sentences later enhanced to life imprisonment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The film has been at the centre of a controversy over censorship, historical representation and creative freedom . It had remained pending with the censor authorities for more than three years after the makers sought theatrical certification in 2022. Government sources said the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had suggested cuts for the theatrical release, but the makers later released the film on OTT without incorporating those changes.

Officials said the movie was released on a digital platform under a new title without following the required norms, following which ZEE5 was asked to remove it. The government has maintained that the action was taken due to concerns related to national security and public order .

The film’s removal has sparked debate, with supporters arguing that it highlights an important chapter of Punjab’s history and should be available for public viewing. Critics, however, have raised concerns over the portrayal of a sensitive period involving terrorism, security operations and allegations of human rights violations.

The IDC will now examine the matter and submit recommendations to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting . The committee includes representatives from ministries including Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology, Defence, External Affairs, Law and Justice, and Women and Child Development.

The committee can recommend measures such as warnings, disclaimers, content modification, reclassification or blocking under legal provisions if required.

However, Diljit Dosanjh has not been banned . The action is against the film "Satluj", and not against the actor. The controversy has brought renewed attention to the balance between OTT regulation and artistic expression in India.