Shilpa picture not obscene, says actress' spokesman

Mumbai, Apr 23 (UNI) The photograph for which an obscenity case has been slapped against actress Shilpa Shetty is actually a freeze-frame shot from her recent superhit Kannada film 'Auto Shankar' which co-starred southern-hearthrob Upendra.

According to a statement issued by her spokesman, the photo was used by the makers from the 'censored' version of the movie, for promotion purposes on publicity hoardings.

From here, it was lifted by a Tamil eveninger called 'Tamil Murasu'.

The Spokesman said, ''on behalf of my client Shilpa Shetty, I hereby clarify that she hasn't received any legal 'summons' or 'warrant', as misreported by a section of the media. Shilpa is in London and on her way to New York to attend a Bangladeshi convention.'' While in India, there have been news reports about a case filed in Tamil Nadu which mentions the publication of an ''obscene'' photograph of the actress.

''I would like to state here that this is not a photo-shoot picture for which Shilpa has posed, neither can it be termed as one to offend sensibilities. She's being made a scapegoat, paying the price for being a celebrity.'' ''This so-called obscene picture shows nothing but Shilpa Shetty's navel,'' the spokesman pointed out.

Describing the case as an ''unwarranted buzz,'' the spokesman said the case seems to be yet another publicity stunt on the part of those who want to gain mileage by suing celebrities, to be known and famous in their hometowns.

On April 21, a Madurai court issued non-bailable warrants against Shilpa Shetty in connection with her 'obscene' pictures in a Tamil eveninger.

A practicing advocate in the city had filed the case contending that the pictures published in the eveninger were an affront to womanhood besides being obscene.

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