Even as the Government challenged Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) `chairperson"™ Leela Samson to prove her allegations, her decision to step down is expected to trigger a slew of resignations from the Board over the weekend. Already, one member, Ira Bhasker, is learnt to have stepped down.

The film Messenger of God comes in the eye of the storm with the Board refusing to clear it for public viewing.

Citing "interference, coercion"™"™ besides corruption of panel members and officers of the organization appointed by the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, Ms. Samson sent in her resignation on Thursday night soon after word came that the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) had cleared the release of the film MSG - The Messenger of God featuring Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan.
The film was initially scheduled for release today but was postponed after the `Examining Committee"™ and the `Revising Committee"™ of the CBFC rejected certification for the film. The `Revising Committee"™ referred the film to FCAT last Tuesday and what has stunned Ms. Samson and other members of the Board is the speed at which the tribunal cleared the film.