The court acquitted Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty in a 2007 pornography case.
According to Indian media, a case was filed against the actress 14 years ago in 2007 for spreading obscenity. However, the court has now ruled that the actress was the victim of Hollywood star Richard Gere's controversial "kiss".
Actress Shilpa Shetty and Hollywood actor Richard Gere attended an AIDS awareness event in Rajasthan in 2007. On stage, actor Richard hugged Shilpa Shetty several times and kissed her on the cheek. After which several demonstrations and complaints were registered against the actress across the country.
The complaint against the actress was that Shilpa Shetty did not protest when actor Richard Gere kissed her. The case was transferred from Rajasthan Court to Mumbai on the orders of the Supreme Court.
According to reports, a Mumbai court had acquitted Shilpa Shetty on January 18. Metropolitan Magistrate Ketki Chuan said in the court order that Shilpa Shetty appears to be a victim of Richard Gere's alleged act. According to Ketki Chuan, Shilpa Shetty clarified her position immediately after the incident. After considering the police report and the documents presented, the magistrate was satisfied that the allegations against Shilpa were baseless and therefore she was acquitted.
It is to be noted that Hollywood actor Richard Gere, whose statues were burnt after the controversial kiss, later apologized to the actress while Shilpa Shetty termed the protest against him as excessive reaction.
