Chandigarh: A fresh legal battle has reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court concerning the controversial film ‘Sutlej’, following a petition filed against its abrupt removal from a digital streaming platform. The petitioner, identified as Sarwan Singh from Mohali, moved the court after the film vanished from its OTT broadcast venue.
The petitioner has strongly invoked Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. The legal challenge contends that enforcing a ban or removing the film from public viewing amounts to a direct and unjustifiable violation of these constitutional rights.
The movie, which stars Diljit Dosanjh and is directed by Honey Trehan, is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. It had premiered uncut on the streaming service ZEE5 on July 3, 2026, after facing multiple delays and hurdles with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) over the last few years. However, it was taken down within 48 hours following directives from the Union Government citing security concerns and compliance requirements under the Information Technology Rules of 2021. The Punjab and Haryana High Court is expected to take up Sarwan Singh’s petition for a formal hearing within the next two days.
