Obscenity: Court dismisses Shilpa Shetty's plea

Madurai, June 03 (UNI) A city court has dismissed a petition seeking cancellation of the arrest warrant issued against Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in a case pertaining to the publication of alleged obscene photographs of her in a Tamil eveninger.

Dismissing the petition of the film star, Judicial Magistrate II Mr Elango, made it clear that the warrant was still in force and posted further hearing in the case to November 10.

The eveninger had published some photographs of Shilpa Shetty and Reema Sen. A city-based advocate, contending they were obscene, had filed a case on February 15 against the actors and the newspaper.

Subsequently, the court directed the two actors and the editor of the newspaper to appear in court. When the three failed to comply with the directive, the magistrate ordered issue of summons to them.

On Friday, when the case came up for hearing, a petition was filed on behalf of Shilpa Shetty, praying for cancellation of the arrest warrant. It was also contended that the actor had not posed for obscene photographs and that those published by the eveninger were without her consent. As such, the newspaper was solely responsible for the act, it was argued.

The petition further sought to dispense with her personal appearance in the court as she was engaged in shooting for a movie in the United States.

UNI CR AA RR ND1758