Shilpa Shetty discharged by Mumbai court in ‘obscenity’ case involving Richard Gere

Relief for actress Shilpa Shetty has been discharged by metropolitan magistrate’s court in Mumbai in a case of obscenity filed against her. For the unversed, the case was filed against the actress after Hollywood actor Richard Gere hugged and kissed her at an event in Rajasthan in 2007. The complaint was filed in Rajasthan, and the case was transferred to the court in Ballard Pier in Mumbai by the Supreme Court orders.

Reportedly, Shetty was booked under sections 292 (sale of obscene books), 293 (sale of obscene objects) and 294 (obscene acts and songs) of the Indian Penal Code, and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

As per reports, Shilpa, through her lawyer Madhukar Dalvi, in the discharge plea stated that the accusation against her was that she had not protested when she was kissed by ‘co-accused’ Richard. The actress’ plea also said the sections she was booked under could not be applied against her. The plea even said the charges were frivolous and baseless, and the complaint did not disclose any overt act under these sections against her. It said the actress was only participating in a charitable cause for spreading awareness on AIDS.

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According to Bar and Bench, the court said, “Not a single element of any of the alleged offence is being satisfied in the complaint. Moreover, none of the paper annexed with the final report discloses act of present accused so as to bring her within the purview of Section 34 of IPC (common intention).”

Coming back to the ‘kiss’ controversy, Shilpa and Richard had to face the wrath of the political workers. Later, Gere issued a statement where he apologised. He wrote, “My dear Indian friends, to be honest, this recent media storm has taken me by surprise. I assure you, I have utmost respect for her, and she knows Of course, I’ve felt terrible that she should carry a burden that is no fault of hers. The burden is mine and no one else’s.”

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