Court quashes FIR against customs officials

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday quashed an FIR registered with the Lonavla police under which 28 customs personnel partying at a farmhouse along with some dancers were booked.

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday quashed an FIR registered with the Lonavla police under which 28 customs personnel partying at a farmhouse along with some dancers were booked.

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“If the obscene material is kept in a house for private viewing and is not for sale, hire, public exhibition or circulation, the accused cannot be charged under section 292 of the Indian Penal Code,” said justice VK Tahilramani.

The first information report was registered following a raid at the bungalow where the customs personnel were found drunk.

A group of 10-12 female dancers were performing in a hall.

The high court observed that “the act of the accused of privately viewing the obscene film on the laptop in the bungalow does not amount to public exhibition, and therefore it does not constitute an offence.”