The spectacle of suitably offended custodians of morality dragging a public figure to the police/courts for inappropriate behavior or outfits has been played out far too frequently in recent times.
The brouhaha over Mallika Sherawat’s dress at a recent Chennai event for the audio release function of Dasavatharam seemed to be part of the same pattern – except that this time it doesn’t seem to have gone anywhere further. The police have decided that, at least so far, there is no case against Mallika.The Periamet Police Station in Chennai had first decided to send Mallika a notice seeking an explanation about the dress that she wore to the function, and also about her sitting cross-legged on the stage with CM M Karunanidhi. However, there is no case now. Informs Ashok Kumar, inspector at the Periamet police station, “There is no case against Miss Sherawat as of now. Apparently, she wasn’t sitting cross-legged on the stage. We have requested for footage of the function to know more about this. But as of now, there is no case.” So we assume policemen in Chennai will therefore keep crime prevention on hold for a while to study videos to ascertain the alignment of Mallika’s limbs! Another police officials in Chennai adds, “What Mallika did was her personal decision, nobody can question her about what she does in real life.”
Actress Khushboo, who has herself been at the receiving end of the moral police on more occasions than one, is happy at with what looks like a snub to the moral police. The actress who was seen sobbing on national TV while apologizing for saying that there was nothing wrong with premarital sex if it was protected, is now happy that the case has been dropped. “Whenever people asked me when the moral police is going to stop, I used to tell them that they will stop when some sense prevails. Sense has prevailed then. There is nothing against Mallika anymore. The case has been called off and there is no complaint filed against her now anywhere. It is the first step,” she tells DT.
And the legal fraternity is happy too. Says Delhi High Court advocate Vinod Wadhwa, “These are pointless suits and they only waste the time of the judiciary. Just because one is allowed to file a complaint, it doesn’t mean that he/she can complaint about anything or anybody. Frivolous PILs are rejected with heavy costs now by the judiciary and this case should have been given similar treatment”.
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