Udta Punjab row: Appellate Tribunal to hear case on June 17

The issue of cuts insisted by the censor board in the film Udta Punjab will come up for hearing before the Film Certification and Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) on June 17.

Officials said the makers of the film, which is at the centre of a massive controversy, had approached the appellate tribunal against the cuts suggested by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

"The matter related to the movie 'Udta Punjab' will come before the appellate tribunal on June 17," a senior official said.

The film was earlier slated for release on June 17. It is learnt the date for hearing has been given as FCAT chairman Justice (retd) S K Mahajan is currently abroad on sanctioned leave. He is expected to be back on June 16.

"The film has been given the earliest possible date as the Chairman FCAT is currently travelling abroad. The filmmakers had recently approached FCAT," the official said.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had earlier lashed out at censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani over the slew of changes that had been suggested by a revising committee to be made including deleting Punjab signboard in the drug-themed film.