The Rajasthan high court has quashed the complaints against actress Shilpa Shetty for using the word bhangi in a television interview in 2013. It was said that the word hurt the sentiments of the people belonging to the Valmiki community.
Ashok Panwar had lodged police complaints against Shilpa and actor Salman Khan, alleging that he saw two interviews of the two actors on TV, wherein they had used the word bhangi. The interview of Salman Khan was taken by your editor, Komal Nahta, on the popular show, ETC Bollywood Business, on Zee’s ETC channel, hosted by him (Nahta). Cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were filed against both the actors.
Counsel for Shilpa Shetty argued that the alleged remarks lacked intent to humiliate based on caste. It was thus contended that the FIR was legally untenable and constituted an abuse of process. It was also argued that the interview was recorded in 2013 whereas the FIR was belatedly lodged on December 22, 2017 i.e. after more than three years. It was said that it was a settled proposition of law that unless the delay in FIR was explained, it was per se fatal.
The court stated that there were no allegations against, Shilpa Shetty that merited continuation of the present complaint and, therefore, quashed the case.
