Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has been granted relief by a court in a case of obscenity filed against her. 

A case of obscenity was filed against Shilpa Shetty in 2007 when the Hollywood actor Richard Gere hugged and kissed her publicly in an event in Rajasthan. The complaint, which was filed in Rajasthan, was transferred to the court in Ballard Pier in Mumbai following orders by the Supreme Court.

After the incident took place in 2007, a complaint was filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Mundawar, Rajasthan, seeking registration of an FIR against both the actors. The actress was booked under section 292 (sale of obscene books), 293 (sale of obscene objects) and 294 (against obscene acts and songs) of the Indian Penal Code. The case was also filed under the relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. Many believe that the case was filed because they found the incident very inappropriate in an event organised for AIDS awareness.

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As per the latest update, Shilpa Shetty has been discharged by a metropolitan magistrate’s court in Mumbai from the offences pertaining to obscenity that she was accused of. Madhukar Dalvi, the actress’ lawyer, stated in the discharge plea that the accusation against Shilpa Shetty was that she had not protested when she was kissed by Richard Gere, the ‘co-accused’ Hollywood actor. The actress’s plea also clearly stated that the sections she was booked under could not be applied against her.

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