Jain who runs an NGO that monitors the public behaviour of celebrities filed a case against the actor late last evening at the Santacruz Police Station. The case has been registered under section 292 and 293 of the Indian Penal Code. Speaking to Indya.com, minutes after he filed the case, Jain said, "I was watching Mallika's New Year's Eve show on television and I was aghast. It was completely obscene what she was doing on stage and not in keeping with our Indian culture. That could not be termed as dance. It took me some time to get the CD of the show, I got it about an hour back and immediately went to Santacruz Police Station and filed a case against her."

What happens when such a case is registered. Does the police immediately take action against the person on whom the case has been registered? Senior PI Gaikwad of Santacruz Police Station told Indya.com, "We are definitely looking at this seriously. I was away on bandobast and came in late to the station, so I still have to go through the case papers in detail, but we will certainly be calling the party for questioning."

This is not the first time that Vinod Jain has filed a case against a film personality on grounds of obscenity. Earlier Jain had filed a case against the makers of Zeher for putting up posters that displayed Udita Goswami's bare back.

What sections 292/293 enactment could mean for Mallika Sherawat:

• Punishment on First Conviction: Imprisonment of term extending up to two years and a fine which may extend to two thousand rupees.
  
  
• Punishment on Second Conviction: Imprisonment of term extending up to five years and a fine which may extend to five thousand rupees.
  
  
• As per Code of Criminal Procedure this offence is classified as a Bailable and Cognizable offence.
  

Deepak Tiwari

Friday, 5 January, 2007