Mumbai Police not to ban cheerleaders

Mumbai, Apr 25 : Navi Mumbai Police today said that it would not impose a ban on cheerleaders at the ongoing DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) Tewnty20 cricket matches.

"No cheerleader can be arrested, but the organisers will be booked if the cheerleaders are obscenely dressed. The dancers will not be allowed to perform in obscene dress," said Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Ramrao Wagh. On Thursday, the Maharashtra Government had said that it was considering a ban on cheerleaders in Mumbai. Maharashtra's Minister of State for Home, Siddharam Mhetre, described the performances of the cheerleaders as absolutely obscene.

The issue was raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Council by state BJP president Nitin Gadkari, who said the dance was vulgar, degrading to women and not fit to be seen by Indian families, and hence should be banned.

Actor-turned-politician Shatrugan Sinha said it is "difficult to find cricket in these matches" and it is making a mockery of the sport.

CPI leader D Raja said one can't expect "morality or ethics" in a commercialised IPL environment.

BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla said: "There is no harm if they dance when a boundary or a six is hit, since it is all entertainment."

IPL Chief Lalit Modi said the cricket body has broken no rules and rejected criticism of the cheerleaders wearing skimpy attire.

The owner of Kolkata Knight Riders and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, also did not find anything vulgar about cheerleaders. The cheergirls on their part said they were only doing their job.

Five IPL matches will be played at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Nerul from April 27.

ANI