Sunday, April 5, 2009

Akashay booked for obscenity on the ramp


Mumbai police has booked an FIR against actor Akshay Kumar, his wife Twinkle Khanna and organisers of Lakme Fashion Week in a case of obscenity.
Times of India reported Akshay, the brand ambassador of Levi's jeans, unveiled its Unbuttoned brand at the Lakme Fashion Week on Tuesday at the Grand Hyatt, Santa Cruz. A social worker, Anil Nair, then submitted a written application to the police, urging them to book the actor and show organisers for indecent, vulgar and obscene behaviour.

"We saw newspaper clippings and video footage of the show before registering an FIR under Section 294 of the IPC. A public prosecutor was also consulted,'' senior inspector S Neklikar said. The offence is bailable. "We will now record statements of people in the audience. Arrests won't take place immediately.''

Section 294 refers to doing any obscene act in public or singing or reciting any obscene song in public. If convicted, the accused can face imprisonment that may extend to three months, or a fine, or both. "We want to ensure that the case stands in court. We will examine related material and take the opinion of several legal experts,'' an officer said.

Akshay, who's in South Africa at present, was not available for comment despite repeated attempts. Those present at the fashion show said Akshay had walked half the ramp at which point a model went up to the actor and tried to unbutton his jeans. The actor refused and moved towards his wife Twinkle, seated in the audience, and asked her to unbutton it.

"Akshay has been bestowed with an honour like the Padma Shri and should not be doing what he did in public. He should give a public apology,'' Nair had told TOI on Thursday.