Parliamentary panel on IT calls Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, I&B ministry and censor board officials to hear their views on the controversy over the film, the panel head Anurag Thakur tells PTI.

The Supreme Court today asked people holding public office to desist from reacting on the Deepika Padukone-starrer Padmavati, saying such statements violated the rule of law and could prejudice the censor board's decision.

Politicians of all hues, including some chief ministers, have recently made public statements, mostly against the film based on the saga of the historic battle of 13th century between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.

"When a matter is pending for consideration before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), how can persons in public authority comment on whether the CBFC should issue certificate or not? It will prejudice the decision of CBFC," a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said.
-- PTI