Two days after the Mumbai police busted a high-profile gay party in Andheri, detaining over 133 attendees, the city’s celebrities voiced their protests. Bobby Darling, who was booked for indecent behaviour at the do, denied reports, saying, “I don’t go for gay parties at all. This was just a paid appearance. As for being caught in a compromising position, they claimed that they have pictures, so where are they? I don’t even like being hugged by girls, let alone gay men.”

Filmmaker Onir feels the incident was an embarrassing reality check. “It’s a joke that gay people dancing are called immodest, while heterosexual couples at parties is fine,” he says, adding, “The cops have every right to stop a party if it exceeds the noise level, but to harass people because of their sexuality is a shame.”

Model-turned-actor Dipannita Sharma agrees, saying, “It makes sense if there is drug abuse or some illegal activities. But I don’t understand why the police  targetted a party just because the revellers are gay.”

Gay activist and DJ, Ma Faiza, who just returned from Berlin, expresses shock. She says, “Even though Germany and India are at the same economic level, I feel like I’ve come back to the 1930s when I hear about such news in India.”