An FIR was filed against Shilpa Shetty for using the word “Bhangi” in a 2013 Television interview. An update on the same has arrived. The Rajasthan High Court after hearing the arguments of advocate Prashant Patil and the advocate for the state quashed FIR No.258/2017 dated 22.12.2017 lodged at Police Station Kotwali Churu, for the alleged offences under Sections 153(A) of IPC and Section 3(1)(r)(u) of Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
It all started in 2013 when Ashok Panwar lodged a police complaint alleging he saw an interview of two film actors -. Salman Khan and Shilpa Raj Kundra (petitioner herein) on television, wherein they used the word “Bhangi”. Said word allegedly hurt the sentiments of the people belonging to the Valmiki community. Basis thereof, the FIR in question was registered and an investigation ensued.
Advocate Prashant Patil appearing for actress Shilpa Shetty argued admittedly, that the purported interview resulting in the impugned FIR was recorded in the year 2013. Whereas, FIR was belatedly lodged by respondent no.2 on 22.12.2017 i.e. after more than 3 years.
It was further argued by Mr Prashant Patil that the impugned FIR came to be lodged in the year 2017 alleging offences under Sections 3(1)(r)(u), ibid. This means thereby, the said sections were not even in existence at the time of the alleged interview. Hence, the petitioner (Shilpa Shetty) cannot be tried under any of the above-mentioned offences by invoking a non-existent section.
