Obscenity case: Mallika Sherawat's legal team issues an official statement

The Legal team of Mallika Sherawat has issued an official statement on behalf of the actress regarding the bailable warrant issued against the actress by a local court of Vadodara in connection with an obscenity case. The statement reads: “The recent news reports in relation to the orders of the trial court at Baroda in connection with a criminal complaint have incorrectly reported that 'non-bailable’ warrant has been issued in the name of Mallika Sherawat. The complaint was filed several years ago and a petition quashing of the same was filed before the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court in 2007 in which the orders were pronounced in early 2013. In the meantime it is clarified that no summons were served upon her since she had not been in India and upon the application of the complainant no 'non-bailable warrant' was issued. We have not yet received the formal orders passed by the court at Varodara.” It may be recalled that former president of the Baroda Bar Association Narendra Tiwari had filed a case and sought a non-bailable warrant against Sherawat over her obscene dance performance at a New Year eve party held in Mumbai on 31 December, 2006 at a five-star hotel. Tiwari had filed the suit after watching the actresses’ performance on television channels. Later, he made Sherawat and the management of the five-star hotel, where the event was held, as respondents in the case. The Court had issued summons to Sherawat last week to appear before it last Saturday. But, since the actress did not attend the court on the appointed day, Tiwari sought issuance of a non-bailable warrant against her. However, after hearing the application, the court issued a bailable warrant against Mallika. Issuing the warrant, the Court asked the actress to appear before it on 19 August, 2013.