Leela Samson controversy: Government accepts her resignation as CBFC Chairperson

The government has accepted the resignation of Leela Samson from the post of chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a senior official tonight said.

"The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has accepted Samson's resignation," the ministry official said. Samson had triggered a controversy on Thursday after she levelled allegations of coercion and interference by the ministry and said she had decided to quit the censor board. Her resignation came in the wake of Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) clearing Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's movie "Messenger of God" for release even though the CBFC had withheld it.

The ministry refuted Samson's charges and said that it has always maintained a distance from the entire process of film certification.

About FCAT's nod to the film, Samson had said, "I hear so. Nothing in writing yet. It is a mockery of CBFC. My resignation is final. Have informed (I&B) secretary."