No offence made out against Salman, Shahrukh: Cops tell court

New Delhi, Feb 12: Delhi Police on Friday told a court here that no cognizable offence was made out against actors Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who were alleged to have outraged Hindu beliefs on the sets of 'Big Boss 9'.

The police said there was no intention to hurt religious sentiments as the promotional event of the actors entering the sets of a temple wearing shoes while shooting for the reality show was done in a studio.

In its action taken report (ATR) filed in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) V K Gautam, the police said the promotional event was not shot to disturb sanctity of a religious place or to hurt religious sentiments.

"In view of the facts and report, no cognizable offence is made out. The promo was not shot to disturb the sanctity of a religious place or disturb or hurt the religious sentiments of any individual, group, community or section of the society.

"However, the undersigned is ready to abide by the order passed by the court," the report forwarded by SHO of Roop Nagar Police Station and filed by sub-inspector Naveen Kumar said.

The ACMM was on leave and link magistrate Joginder Singh posted the matter for March 2 for hearing arguments. The court had earlier directed the police to file an ATR explaining as to what action it has taken on the complaint filed by advocate Gaurav Gulati.

The complaint had sought the court's direction to the cops to register an FIR against the two actors, Colors channel and director and producer of reality show 'Bigg Boss 9' for the alleged offences under sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 298 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

The police, in its report, also mentioned that a similar complaint was filed in a Meerut court, which has already dismissed the application.

The police also referred to the reply of channel producer of 'VIACOM 18' in which it was stated that Shah Rukh Khan had appeared on the set of 'Big Boss 9' and met Salman Khan with whom he had worked in Bollywood movie 'Karan Arjun' a long time ago.

"As they (actors) had met after a long time, the director thought of an idea showing them reuniting on the sets of 'Kali Mandir' in a similar manner as they had reunited in the movie 'Karan Arjun' in Kali temple after their re-birth in the film.

"This idea was not motivated by any intention of hurting any religious sentiments of any religious group and shooting of the promo was done in a studio and the subject incident never took place," police said, citing the channel's reply.

The complaint filed against the actors had alleged that in a video being circulated, Shah Rukh and Salman were seen wearing shoes on the sets of temple of goddess 'Kali' while shooting for an episode of Bigg Boss where the idol can be seen in the background.

"It is a disrespect to the Hindu religion and its belief as it is strictly prohibited to come in the temple with shoes and also they were showing their back to the idol which is also deemed to be an insult to the Hindu goddess... (sic)," it had alleged.

Maintaining that it seemed to be a "well-planned malicious act to outrage Hindu feelings", the plea had also claimed that any kind of misdeed committed by them affected the masses.

PTI