The Hindi movie Santa Banta under threat from Sikh groups hours after its release on Friday at several places.

Charging that the motion picture Santa Banta depicted their religion in an undignified way, the group slowed down the movie’s discharge at PVS Mall in area Shastri Nagar furthermore copied blurbs of the motion picture.

The former councillor and Congressman Charan Singh Sapra said “Why make a satire based on fictional characters? Why not profile Hari Singh Nalwa or Ranjit Singh? Previous filmmakers who made films involving Sikh characters sought my opinion and carried out the cuts I suggested. So far I have restrained our boys from damaging theatres. Later we may show our warrior genes.”

Police spokesman DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni said no theatre had approached them for protection.

Director Akashdeep Sabir said, “The protestors have not even seen `Santa Banta’. It is shocking that my film is being killed even though the Censor Board has cleared it, and the Bombay HC refused to stay its release. It is a simple comedy.” Akashdeep approached ACP (law and order) Deven Bharti, who has reportedly assured police protection for future screenings.