[2007 Obscenity Case] Allegation of Not Resisting Actor Richard Gere's Kiss Doesn't Make Me A Criminal : Shilpa Shetty To Sessions Court

Shetty has sought heavy costs to be imposed on the original complainant in the cases for the harassment.

In January 2022, a maigstrate's court in Mumbai discharged Shetty from the case and observed that Shetty appears to be a victim of Gere's acts and that even a single element of any of the alleged offence wasn't satisfied.

The case pertains to an incident from 15 years ago, wherein co-accused Hollywood Actor Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty were at an AIDS awareness event in outer Delhi on April 15, 2007. During the event Gere kissed Shetty on her cheeks to spread awareness that kissing was a safe act that could not lead to transmission of HIV.

Following the incident, Shetty and Gere were both booked under Sections 292, 293, 294, 120-B of IPC, Section 67 of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 4 and 6 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

After the magistrate's order, the Rajasthan police approached the Sessions Court against Shetty's discharge in the form of a criminal revision application.

In her reply, field through advocate Prashant Patil, Shetty sought dismissal of the revision application.

"The only allegation against the present Accused is that she did not protest when she was kissed by the Co-Accused, Mr. Richard Gere. This allegation does not make her a conspirator or perpetrator of any crime," the response states.

None of the sections would be applicable to her, she said.

The case, originally registered in Alwar in Rajasthan, was transferred to Mumbai by the Supreme Court on an application made by Shetty.