MUMBAI: While arguing its petition in the Bombay High Court, the makers of Kangana Ranaut's film 'Emergency' have accused the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of intentionally delaying the release of the film, as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is sceptical that the movie might affect the party's prospects in the upcoming assembly polls in Haryana.

A bench of Justices Burgess Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla was hearing a plea by Zee Entertainment, co-producer, which has now asked the CBFC to decide on the release of actor-turned-politician Ranaut's film, in which she is playing the lead role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, by September 25.

Senior lawyer Venkatesh Dhond, representing the producers of the film, said that the CBFC was intentionally dragging the release of the film until the Haryana Assembly elections are conducted on October 5. However, the delay was causing losses for the makers.

The HC bench said that the CBFC will have to make a decision one way or the other. "We don't want the CBFC to sit on the fence. You must have the courage to say this film cannot be released. At least then we will appreciate your courage and boldness," the bench said.

Senior counsel Abhinav Chandrachud, who was appearing for the CBFC, informed the court that the certifying body's chairman had referred the movie to the revising committee for a final decision.

The court, however, refused to grant any urgent relief at this stage in light of the directive issued by the Madhya Pradesh HC asking the censor board to consider objections to the movie before certifying it.

The biographical drama film was earlier scheduled for release on September 6 but got caught in controversy after Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, took strong objection to the film, accusing it of misrepresenting facts related to the community and also getting historical facts wrong.