Stay on case filed against Kushboo

The Madras HC has granted a stay on a case filed against actress Kushboo alleging that she showed disrespect to the idols of Hindu goddesses.

The Madras High Court has granted a stay on a case filed against actress Kushboo by a Hindu Makkal Katchi worker, alleging that she showed disrespect to the idols of Hindu goddesses at a film function in Chennai last year.

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Justice V Periya Karuppiah of the Madurai bench of the court also said that the actress need not appear before the judicial magistrate at Palani in Dindigul District, where the case was filed, till disposal of the petition.

The HMK worker, in his case filed at the magistrate court, contended that a Tamil daily had published a photograph showing the actress sitting with her footwear on a dais, where the idols of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi had been kept.

The complainant sought action against her under IPC Sec 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with the intent to insult a religion), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 296 (disturbing religious assembly).

Kushboo said she would be put to hardship if she had to appear for every hearing. She had school-going children and was also a professional. Many people have invested money on films in which she acted, she said.

Her counsel submitted that she had neither damaged any sacred object nor insulted any religion. She was actually sitting away from the idols.

The magistrate had no jurisdiction to try the case, as the offence was committed at Chennai, he said.