The government today refuted charges of interference in the Censor Board's functioning levelled by its chairperson Leela Samson, who has decided to resign, even as it asserted that it has always maintained a distance from the certification process.

The decision by Samson to resign came amid a row over controversial film 'Messenger of God' featuring Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Reacting to the CBFC chairperson's statement that she had decided to resign because of "recent cases" of interference in the functioning of the Board, Minister of State in the Information and Broadcasting ministry Rajyavardhan Rathore said the ministry has always "kept a hands away distance" from the Censor Board decisions.

"This latest issue of the Chairperson resigning has come to light. I would like to bring to the notice of everyone that the entire Censor Board and all its members were placed by the previous government. None of them have been changed. No additional member has been put in. The extension that the Chairperson has been talking of has been granted to the entire Censor board," Rathore said.

Also read: Censor Board chief quits over Dera Leader's controversial film