Honey Trehan’s ‘Satluj’, which was previously titled ‘Punjab ’95’, continues to be embroiled in controversy even after its removal from OTT. The Diljit Dosanjh film, which was taken down from the streaming platform within days of its release, has now been shown publicly in multiple locations, including parts of Punjab and Jammu.
The alleged performances have sparked a legal challenge, with a petition filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking action against the organizers of the events.Inspired by the life and death of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, the film premiered on OTT on July 3 before being pulled from the platform on July 5. Its sudden removal sparked widespread discussions about censorship, legal proceedings and the circulation of the film through unauthorized channels.Advocate Vineet Jindal announced on X Twitter, previously, that he has approached the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding public screenings of the film ‘Satluj’. Sharing a copy of the petition, he said he seeks legal intervention against those allegedly responsible for organizing the events.Jindal wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Advocate Vineet Jindal has filed a petition before the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking immediate directions to prevent illegal telecast and unauthorized public showing of Satluj in Punjab.
Under this petition filed by the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana, I seek appropriate action against individuals, religious organizations and political parties involved in organizing illegal public screenings of the film.
Such shows are allegedly used to promote violence and spread hatred against the community as well as security agencies.He further added, “These illegal acts pose a serious threat to peace, public order and communal harmony in Punjab.
“I have therefore sought appropriate directions to prevent such illegal checks and to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted in accordance with the law.” In a separate video, Jindal said that screening a film without obtaining the necessary legal permission or a valid permit amounts to an illegal act. He also urged the authorities to register FIRs and take strict action against the organisers.After the film was removed from Zee5, the streaming platform issued a statement that said: “In light of the current developments, Satluj will not be available in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring all appropriate avenues through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity.”
