IPL opening ceremony 'obscene'; Madras HC asks seniors cops to respond

Madurai: The Madras High Court bench has asked top police officers to respond to a petition, praying for criminal action against pop singer Katy Perry and several Bollywood actors, for staging an ‘obscene’ cultural show during the inauguration of IPL V at Chennai on 3 April. In his petition, Advocate K Jebakumar contended that the performance of Perry, Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Australian cricketer Douglas Bolinger was ‘indecent’ and ‘obscene’. He said the “semi-nude dances denigrated men and women” and appealed to the “prurient interest” of public and therefore the celebrities were liable to be booked under Sections 292 (sale of obscene books), 293 (sale of obscene objects to young persons) and 294 (obscene acts and songs) of IPC. [caption id=“attachment_281644” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“IPL opening obscene says  the petition. PTI”]  [/caption] “The celebrities have violated the provisions of Indecent Representation of Women (prohibition) Act-1986, Children and Young Persons (harmful publication) Act and Foreigners Act - 1946, as well as violated the visa conditions and passport act”, he contended. He also produced ‘photographic evidence’ to buttress his contention that the show was indecent. The advocate charged police with turning a blind eye at the ‘cultural vandalism’ and ‘urbanised public degradation’ exhibited during the IPL inauguration show. “Police deny permission for cultural performances during temple festivals in rural parts of Tamil Nadu. They were mute spectators, patrolling a show which had obscene, lascivious and semi-nude dances,” he said, adding that those who performed at the show invite strict criminal action. The petitioner said he had lodged a complaint with police on 4 April, but that no legal actions had been taken till date. The petitioner also sought a direction to restrain media from re-broadcasting and re-publishing contents of the show, claiming re-broadcasting of the inauguration is mostly watched by students (Xth and XIIth standards). Single judge A Selvam, on hearing the contentions directed the DGP (law and order), IGP (south zone) and IGP (central zone) to file their counters immediately and adjourned the case to Friday. PTI