In order to preserve Indian culture many self styled organisation and even Police and Government have acting immaturely which is creating tension in society

1. AN INITIATIVE OF SHIVNANDANI INDUSTRIES PVT LTD AND JAGDAMB JANAKI NAWAL JANAKI
SOCIETY
Moral Policing
CompiledbyCol Mukteshwar Prasad(Retd), MTech,CE(I),FIE(I),FIETE,FISLE,FInstOD,AMCSI
Contact -9007224278, e-mail –muktesh_prasad@yahoo.co.in
for book ”DecodingServicesSelectionBoard” and SSB guidance and training at Shivnandani Edu and
Defence Academy
6/11/2015

2. Moral police
Moral police is a blanket term used to describe vigilante groups which act to enforce a code of
morality in India. Some of India's laws, and some actions of police forces in India are also
considered to be instances of moral policing. The targets of moral policing are any activity that
vigilante groups, the government or police deem to be "immoral" and/or "against Indian culture".
Overview
India has several vigilante groups that claim to protect the Indian culture. They resist and oppose
cultural concepts that they deem to have been imported from the Western culture. They have
been known to attack bar and pubs. Some of these groups have attacked or have forced to shut
down art exhibitions, where they claim obscene paintings were being displayed. They have
issued diktats against western attires. Some have also condemned beauty parlours. Some
members of the media have also colluded with such groups. Some politicians have supported
such viewpoints and occasionally such activities. Some of their activities have been compared to
that of the Taliban.
Laws
In India, the Sections 292 to 294 of the Indian Penal Code are used to deal with obscenity. Most
of these laws date back to 1860. The Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code deals with sales and
distribution of obscene books and other material. It criminalises materials like books and
paintings if it is deemed to be "lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest" The Section 292 was
amended in 1969 to exclude material that are for public good (like condom ads), scientific
material, art and religious figures. Police also use Section 292 of the IPC to file cases against
film posters and advertisement hoardings that that are deemed to be "obscene".
The Section 293 deals with the sale of obscene material to people under 20. The Section 294 of
the Indian Penal Code deals with "obscene acts and songs" and it states that:
There is no proper definition of an obscene act and it is open to interpretation. It is frequently
used by the police to justify acts of moral policing.
“
Whoever,to the annoyanceof others
(a) Does any obscene act in any public place, or
(b) Sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public
place,
Shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend
to three months, or with fine, or with both. ”

3. Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (also known as Prevention of Immoral Traffic Act or
PITA) was originally passed to prevent human trafficking. It allows police to raid hotels if they
suspect a sex racket is being run there. Police have used this law to raid hotels and arrest
consenting couples.
India's obscenity laws have also been frequently compared to the Hicklin test.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is often opposed by the moral police for being a western import. Vigilante group
have been known to attack gift and card shops prior to the occasion. Couples are often beaten up
for holding hands or kissing in public.
Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has called it an attack of the west on Indian culture and that
it is attracting youth for commercial gain. Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray has said that people
not wanting violence on the day should not celebrate it. He has also called the festival shameless
and contrary to Indian culture. Occasionally, the police also try to restrict the celebration of the
festival.
Incidents of moral policing
By vigilantegroups,religiousorganizationsandunaffiliatedcitizens
 In the early1990s, a women'sseparatistorganizationcalled Dukhtaran-e-MillatinJammuand
Kashmirbeganforcinglocal womentocovertheirfacesand threateningthemwith acidattacks.
Duringthe period,theyalsoattackedcinemas, videoparlours,beautyparloursandwine shops.
In 2005, theyattackedhotel bars andrestaurants,and destroyedliquorbottles.
 In 1996, a Hindi magazine VicharMimansapublishedanarticle titled“M.F. Husain:A Painteror
a Butcher?” whichcontained reprintsof paintings M.F.Husain had createdin1975. They
depictedvariousHindugoddessesinnude orcopulatingposes.Eightdifferentlawsuitswere
filedagainsthim.In2008, the Delhi HighCourtquashedthree caseswhichhadbeentransferred
to it.
 The 1996 MissWorld pageantwasheldin Bangalore.Itfacedcriticismfromprotestorswho
claimedthateventwasdemeaningwomenandIndia'sculture.Several self-immolationthreats
were made.The police arrest1,500 protestors, includingseveral fromthe BJP.One mandiedin
a self-immolationattempt.Amongotherorganizationswhichhadprotestedthe eventwere:
KarnatakaRajya RaithaSangha and CommunistPartyof India.
 In 1997, a lawyernamedSabuThomasfrom Keralafiledanobscenitycase againstthe author
Arundhati Roy,claimingthatthe 21st chapter of The God of Small Things containsobscene
scenes.The bookwasalsocriticizedbypolitician E.M. S.Namboodiripad.

4.  In May 2005, NationalistCongressParty (NCP) workersstormedapubin Pune, Maharashtra,
broke windowpanes,anddamagedfurniture.The move came daysafter Pune Police hadforced
five pubstoshut before the closingtime of 12:30 am.
 In September2005, Tamil actressKushboo saidduringaninterview withamagazine thatitwas
fine forgirlsto indulge in pre-marital sex aslongastheytookprecautionsagainstdiseasesand
pregnancies.Variouspolitical parties,notably Pattali Makkal Katchi andDalitPanthersof India,
tookoffence atthe statement.Theyclaimedthatthe comment“denigratesthe chastityof Tamil
Women"andover 20 lawsuitswere filedagainstthe actressinthe state of Tamil Nadu.Duringa
hearinginNovember,protestorshurledeggs,rottentomatoesandslippersathercar. In April
2010, the Supreme Courtof Indiadroppedall 23 defamationcasesagainsther.
 In September2005, a fatwaagainsttennisplayerSaniaMirzawas issuedbya clericnamed
Haseeb-ul-hasanSiddiqui of the Sunni UlemaBoard.The fatwasaidthat herattire on the tennis
court and billboardadvertisementswere un-Islamic.Mirzalaterdecidedtohiredbodyguards.
 In September2005, a court in Rajasthanfinedan Israeli couple ₹1,000 forkissingduringtheir
weddingceremony.The couple haddecidedtogetmarriedina Hinduceremonyat Pushkar
Lake.However,the priestswere offendedwhenthe couple startedkissingandhuggingduring
the ceremony,andfiledalawsuit.
 In December2006, a obscenitycase wasfiledagainst RajasthanChief MinisterVasundharaRaje
and BioconIndiaChief KiranMazumdar-Shaw forallegedlykissingata publicfunction.The
lawsuitcame afternewspaperspublishedthe picturesof acheek-to-cheek airkissfroma
peculiarangle.
 2008 Imphal bombing:InOctober2008, an explosionoccurredatRagailong,atribal village near
Imphal where peoplehadgatheredtoplaya traditional gamblinggame.Seventeenpeople were
killed,andmanymore injured,inthe blast.The KangleipakCommunistParty (MilitaryCouncil)
claimedresponsibilityforthe blast,statingtheywantedtostopthe game because it"affects
Manipuri culture adversely".
 2009 Mangalore pub attack: On24 January2009, membersof the Sri Ram Senabargedintothe
pub"Amnesia— The Lounge"in Mangalore,Karnataka,and beatup a group of youngwomen
and men,claimingthe womenshouldnotbe drinkinginapublicplace.
 In December2011, VinayRai,the editorof a Delhi-basedUrdudailycalledAkbari,filedan
obscenitycase against21 websitesincluding Facebook,YahooandGoogle,forallegedly
distributingobscene material.The companiesappealedthe Delhi HighCourttodropthe case,
but the Delhi HCon 13 Januaryallowedthe case to proceed.
 2012 Mangalore homestayattack:On 28 July2012, activistsbelongingtothe HinduJagarana
Vedike attackedabirthdaypartyat an unlicensedhomestayinMangalore,Karnataka.The 12
people atthe party,including5girls,were allegedlybeaten,strippedandmolested.The facesof
some girlswere blackened.The activistsclaimedthe youngsterswere consumingalcohol and
were involvedin"some indecentactivities".

5.  In February2013, three girlswhowere membersof arock band in Jammuand Kashmirbegan
receivingthreatsandhate messagesonthe internet.Later,the GrandMufti of Kashmir,Bashir-
ud-dinFarooqi,issuedafatwaagainstthem, askingthemtostop suchimmoral activities.Ayaz
Akbar,the spokespersonof All PartiesHurriyatConference saidthatwesternculture hadno
place inthe Kashmirvalley,and Dukhtaran-e-Millatalsosupportedthe fatwa.Later,the girls
shutdownthe band.
 Moral policinggroupsare very active inVatakaratown nearKozhikode inIndia.Recentlya19-
year-old-boywaskilledwhenhe waschasedbya group of vigilante.Theytargetedhimbecause
he had an affairwitha girl and theywere seentogetherpublicly.
 A restaurantwasattackedin Kozhikode cityon23 October,2014 because theypermitted
college studentstocome inpairsandto have coffee.The attackfollowedanewsbulletinof a
Malayalamnewschannel thatraisedan allegationthatcoupleswere given alotof privacy inthe
parkinglotof the restaurant.Theysuspectedthatpeople came tothe restaurantforholding
handsor for kissing.
By police
 In October1993, Mumbai police beganarrestingstreet-hawkerssellinggirliemagazines.The
publishersof Debonairissuedalettertoretailersdeclaringthattheirmagazine wasnotbanned.
TheypetitionedBombayHighCourtagainstseizuresof itsissues.Anothermagazine, Chastity,
delayeditsNovemberissueuntil itcouldacquire legalsupportagainstseizures.
 In September2000, Mumbai police bannedkissinginthe Marine Drive area.Theycitedthe
Sectionof 110 Mumbai Police Act,1951 whichallowsthe police tointerferein"disorderly
behaviour."The decree waslaterwithdrawnafterprotests.
 In September2005, the license of a Chennai nightclubwassuspendedbythe police,after
photographsof some coupleskissingwere publishedbytwonewspapers, Tamil Murasu and
Dinamalar.The reasonforthe license suspensionwasgiventhatthe clubservedalcohol after
midnight.Followingthe incident,severalclubsandbarsin the citybannedcellphoneswith
cameras.[
 On 19 December2005, police personnel raidedapublicparkin Meerut,accompaniedby
camerascrews fromTV channels.Theyattackedcouplessittinginthe parkinfrontof cameras.
The raid was termed“OperationMajnu”(namedafterthe folklore) anditwasclaimedbythe
police thatthe purpose wasto checksexual harassment.
 In November2006, police raideda trance musicfestival in RamgarhnearJaipurafterlocal
complainedaboutalcohol,drugandsex.Theyalsosaidthatthe laserlightsat the venue were
disturbingthe local wildlife.
 In September2008, a policemaninDelhi filedacase of obscenityagainstamarriedcouple for
kissinginthe Dwarkacourt complex.The couple appealedinthe Delhi HighCourt.The Court
notedthat eventhoughthe charge-sheetclaimedthatthe case wasfiledbecause the passerby
were feelingbad,noone wasmentionbyname.The Courtsaid thatkissinginpublicbymarried
couplescannotbe termedobscene.The Courtpasseditsverdicton25 May 2009 and askedthe

6. police todrop case againstthe couple.The police wasaskedtopay ₹5,000 to bothhusbandand
wife.
 In January2008, the police from D.N.Nagarof Mumbai arresteda Belgianfashionphotographer
calledVandelanotte Gaetanfortakingnude picturesof twoIndianmodels,TusharNarvekarand
NitinGupta.A court dischargedhiminMarch 2009 sayinga laptopisakin to a personal diary
and photosstoredonit cannotusedas evidence of obscenity.
 In August2008, 22 customs officerswere arrestedfromaparty at a bungalow near Lonavla.
Theywere allegedlywatchingpornona laptopand were undressed.The police also arrested10
girlsand a husband-wife duo.The Mumbai HighCourtdroppedthe case inSeptember2010
statingwatchingpornographyina private residence isnotanoffence
 On 29 November2011, the Ghaziabad police launcheditsown"OperationMajnu".The police
caught couplesinparksand made the mendo sit-upsinfrontof TV cameras.The headof the
operationanofficercalledAlkaPandeysaiditwasto prevent "innocentgirlsbeingtrappedby
boyswithevil motives".
 In 2012, AssistantPolice Commissioner VasantDhoble carriedoutaseriesof raidson barsand
clubsinand around Mumbai,claimingtorescue prostitutes.[
Inone instance,he labelledfour
Germanwomenwronglyassex workersinfrontof cameraswhenhe arrestedthemon30
March 2014 fromthe Voodoopub.On5 June 2012, Dhoble raidedMasalaCurry restaurantafter
he feltsuspiciousof womenbeingallowedfree entry.
Twocousinswhowere pickedupinthe
raid laterfiledadefamationcase againstDhoble.
 On 10 August2013, Ghaziabadpolice raidedahotel ona tip-off anddetained56 adultcouples.
It was laterfoundoutof them,52 coupleswere marriedorconsentingfriends.The police had
carriedout the raid afterlocalsnoticedusual traffictothe hotel andtoldthe police.
 Followingthe gangrape of a photojournalistin Mumbai inAugust2013, Mumbai Police
CommissionerSatyapal Singhwasseverelycriticizedbythe publicfordefendingmoral policing.
The Commissionerwasquotedtohave said,"Onthe one handyouwant to have a promiscuous
culture andon the other handyouwant a safe and secure environmentforthe people."
 HyderabadPolice raidedagayparty at a clubinthe cityon 3 September2013. The police
defendedthatraidunderthe Sector294 of IPCthat itis wasobscenityina publicplace andthat
bar was servingalcohol afterclosingtime. LGBTactivistsdenouncedthe raidas"a classic
example of moral policing"anddiscriminationagainstthe LGBT community.
 On 14 February2014, the police in Gokarnaattackeda party of about200 foreignerswithsticks.
The police claimedthatthe partywas goingon afterestablishedtime limit.The victimsalleged
that initiallythe police haddemandedbribestoletthe partycontinue,butattackedthem after
theyrefused.A petitionwassenttovariousembassiestointerfereinthe matter.

7. By the Central andstate governments
Central Board of FilmCertification
Main articles:Central Boardof FilmCertification andListof filmsbannedinIndia
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) or the Censor Board, which is tasked with
regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the "Cinematograph Act, 1952",
has been accused of moral policing by some filmmakers. Director Anurag Kashyap has argued
that it is infeasible to have a single body for a large and diverse country like India Director
Prakash Jha has pointed out that even if a film is certified by the Board, it is often not allowed a
release in some states due to protests from local political parties or moral police. He has also said
that the Board should be scrapped and each film-maker should simply state the type of content in
the film because the society is mature enough to understand it Sudhir Mishra has noted that
censor committees have been influenced to giving films lighter ratings.
The former chief of the Censor Board, Sharmila Tagore, has defended the body saying that it
does not carried out moral policing. In August 2014, then chief of the Censor Board, Rakesh
Kumar, was arrested for allegedly delaying certifications to films and demanding bribes to speed
up the process.
Restrictions onnightlife and alcohol
Throughout India, restrictions have been place by some state governments on timings for pubs,
bars and other establishments that sell liquor.
 The 2005 banon dance bars in Maharashtra was consideredtobe anact of moral policing.Prior
to the ban, the state governmenthadclaimedthatthe barshad a "corruptinginfluence on
youthand compromisedthe moral standardsof local men".Asa resultof the ban thousandsof
womenemployedbythe 750 bars inthe state losttheirjobsand manywere forcedinto
prostitution.InJune 2011, the state raisedthe legal age of drinkingto25, from previous21.
Furthermore,anoldlawcalled"BombayProhibitionof ForeignLiquorAct,1949", mandates
anyone seekingtobuy,possessorconsume alcohol toobtainaspecial permit.
 The state of Karnataka hasa lawdatingback to 1967, calledRule 11(1) of the "KarnatakaExcise
LicencesRulesof 1967", whichprohibitsdancinginestablishmentswhichservealcohol.InJuly
2014, the KarnatakaHigh Court askedthe governmentof amendthe law,statingthatitwas
unconstitutional asitviolatedthe Freedomof Expression.Thislaw hadbeenusedbythe local
police toban dancinginbars and clubs,especiallyin Bangalore.
Oppositiontosex educationinschools
The Adolescence Education Programme (AEP) was a sex education program designed by the
Ministry of Human Resource Development (India) and National AIDS Control Organisation
(NACO) to implement the policies of the National AIDS Control Programme II (NACP II).
However, it faced opposition in various states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, and Rajasthan.

8.  In February2007, Gujarat governmentisapressrelease statedthatinwouldnotbe introducing
sex educationinthe state.Itstatedthat the bookssuggestedinthe programby the Central
governmentwere inappropriate forchildren.HoweverinApril 2010, itreintroducedsex
educationina dilutedform.
 In March 2007, Maharashtra governmentbannedsex educationinschools.The bancame after
the rulingand opposition Membersof the LegislativeAssembly protestedinthe state assembly
claimingthatwesterncountrieshadforcedthe Central governmenttoimplementthe program.
 In April 2007, the Karnataka MinisterforPrimaryandSecondaryEducationBasavaraj Horatti
saidthat the program has beenputonholdaftercomplaintsfromteachers.The teachershad
complainedthatthe bookswasorientedtowardsincreasingthe salesof condoms,andthatthe
illustrationswere againstIndianculture andsexuallyprovocative.
 In May 2007, Madhya Pradesh Chief MinisterShivraj SinghChouhan bannedsex educationin
hoolsclaimingthat sex education hasnoplace in Indianculture.
 In May 2007, RajasthanChief MinisterVasundharaRaje wrote aletterto ArjunSingh,then
UnionMinisterof Human Resource Development.Inthe letter,she statedthatchildreninClass
IX andXI, at whomthe course was directed,donotrequire sex educationastheyare inthe early
stagesof puberty.The state EducationMinisterGhansyamTiwari statedthattheyalreadyhad
life skillscourse calledJeevanShaili,andsex educationwill have anegative impactonyoung
minds.
Others
 In 1996, it was announcedbya Chandigarh-basedcompanyGlobal InternetLtd.thatan adult
entertainmentpaychannel[105]
calledPlus21 wouldbe launchedinIndia.Inresponse tothis,the
National CommissionforWomen (NCW) filedalawsuitinthe Delhi HighCourt.[106]
NCWclaimed
that itwas performing itsstipulatedfunctionsof protectingthe interestsof womenand
preventingculture shocktoviewers.NCWwasrepresentedbynotable feministlawyerIndira
Jaising.NCWclaimedthatchannel wouldbe showingpornographywhichwouldviolate Indecent
RepresentationOf Women(Prohibition) Act1986. The argumentalsocitedthe IndianTelegraph
Act, 1885. The HighCourt put an injunctionagainstthe launchof the channel.
 In the 2001, the InformationandBroadcasting ministry bannedtwotelevisionchannelsTB6and
FashionTV.
 In December2000, after PriyankaChoprawascrowned MissWorld,beautycontestswere
bannedinherhome state of Uttar Pradesh underthe ordersof thenChief MinisterRajnath
Singh.He claimedthatbeautycontestswere againsttraditionalculture andwere vulgar. Akhil
BharatiyaVidyarthi Parishad praisedthe ban.
 In 2003, Union InformationandBroadcastingMinister SushmaSwaraj removedcondomads,
fundedby National AIDSControl Organisation (NACO),frompublicbroadcastingchannel
Doordarshan.

9.  In January2007, the InformationandBroadcastingministry bannedthe TV channel AXN fortwo
months.The channel wasallegedlyadverselyaffectingpublicmoralitybybroadcastingashow
called'World'sSexiestCommercials'after11 pm.
 In March 2007, Ministryof InformationandBroadcasting banned FashionTV fortwomonthsfor
broadcastingprogramsthat were capable of corruptingpublicmorality.
 In June 2009, the Ministryof CommunicationsandInformationTechnology issuedanotice to
variousinternetservice providersanddirectedthemtoblockthe pornographic webcomiccalled
SavitaBhabhi.
 In March 2013, the Ministryof CommunicationsandInformationTechnology ordereFashionTV
to be takenoff air for 10 days, for violatingthe Cable TelevisionNetworksRules,1994.The
governmentclaimedthe channel wasshowingobscene andvulgarvisualswhichwere unsuitable
for the publicandchildren.Thiswasthe 3rd time the channel wasorderedtogo off-air.
 In May 2014, the Ministryof CommunicationsandInformationTechnology suspendedthe TV
channel ComedyCentral for10 days.The ministryclaimedthatComedyCentral hadviolated
Cable TelevisionNetworksRegulationAct,1995, by showingshowswhichwere obscene and
denigratedwomen.InNovember2014, Delhi HighCourtupheldthe government'sorder.Bythis
time,the channel hadgone off airfor 4 days.Theyhad appealedinthe courtclaimingthattheir
rightto broadcast wasprotectedunderArticle 19 of the Constitution.The courthadalso upheld
a fine of ₹20,000. However,laterinthe same monththe Supreme Courtstayedthe orderand
allowedfurtherhearing.
 Local authoritiesinthe Maldadistrictof WestBengal cancelledawomen'sfootball match,
featuringnational teamplayers,betweenaKolkataside anda NorthBengal teaminMarch
2015, afterMuslimresidentsandlocal maulvis objectedtowomenplayingsports.BiplabRoy,
BlockDevelopmentOfficer(BDO) of Harishchandrapur,Maldaexplained,"WhenIcame toknow
aboutthe local opposition,Ireferredthe mattertothe SP andthe DM, and the local police
station.The ordercame fromthe top that the match shouldbe cancelled,andIacted
accordinglyinthe interestof peace andtranquillityandpublicorder."
Accusationsofobscenityagainstactorsandfilm-makers
 In 1993, duringNelsonMandela'svisittoIndia,he kissedactress ShabanaAzmi onthe cheek.
The incidentcreatedacontroversyanddrew criticismfromthe Muslimcommunity.
 In 1995, a obscenitycase wasfiledagainstmodel-turnedactorMilindSoman andMadhu Sapre
for posingnude ina shoe advertisement.Theywere acquittedbyaMumbai court in December
2009. The court saidthat what mayconsiderobscene forone,maynotbe so forothers.
 In February2000, a Mumbai court heardan obscenitycase againstactresses, PoojaBhatt,
Madhuri Dixit, MamtaKulkarni,KarismaKapoor,TabassumHashmi,RaveenaTandon andJuhi
Chawla.The maincomplainantinthe case was ArchanaChavan,headof the Baroda-basedNari
Shakti Sanghatna.She claimedthatthe actresseswere corruptingIndianculture.The court
droppedthe case statingthe allegationof obscenitywere vague.

10.  In July2000, a obscenitycase againstMamtaKulkarni washeardina Mumbai court. She was
accusedof posingobscenelyonthe coverof magazine called Stardustin1993. The court fined
her₹15,000 howeverthe judgementwasquashedbythe Mumbai HighCourtas lowercourt
didn'thave authoritytolevyfinesover ₹5,000.
 In January2005, a case wasfiledagainst PoojaBhatt,the directorof a filmcalled Rog.The
complainantwasa St Xavier'sCollegelecturer,PratibhaNaithani,whoconsideredthe postersof
filmobscene.The case wasdroppedin2008 by a Bandra court. But it wasreopenedin2011,
afterthe petitionof one VinodJain.InNovember2012, the BombayHigh Court droppedthe
case.
 In 2006, a Madurai-basedlawyer,Dakshninammorthy,filedacase againstactress ShilpaShetty
and ReemaSen,underSection109 of the IndianPenal Code,Preventionof Publicationof
Obscene PicturesActandSection3 of the YoungPersons(Harmful Publications) Act.The lawsuit
came inresponse tosome photographspublishedinanewspapercalled Tamil Murasu.The
petitionerclaimedthatthe picturespollutedthe mindsof the youth.The courthad issuednon-
bailable warrantsagainstthe actresses.On23 April 2008, the Madras HighCourt droppedthat
case againstthe twoactress,but howeveraddedthatthe case couldbe continuedagainstthe
publishers.
 In May 2006, a case filedagainstitemgirl Rakhi Sawantafteralive-performance for"indecent
behaviour"and"destroyingpublicpeace"underSection110,112, 117 of the BombayPolice Act,
1951. The organizerwasalsoindictedinthe case.
 In 2006, ShailendraDwivedi,anIndore-basedlawyer,filedanobscenitycase againstactors
AishwaryaRai andHrithikRoshan for kissinginthe movie Dhoom2.The lawyerclaimedthatthe
scene wasvulgarand couldn'tbe watchedby Indianfamilies.A separate case hadbeenfiledby
a Muzaffarpur-basedlawyernamedSudhirKumarOjha.
 In January2007, VinodJaintriedtofile anobscenitycase againstactress MallikaSherawatinthe
Santacruz police stationafterwatchingthe telecastof aNew Year's performance ontelevision.
The police examinedthe footage anddecidednotfile acase afterpointingoutthatSherawat
was wearingaskin-colouredsuit.However,lateraBandra court had acceptedthe petition.In
June 2007, NarendraTiwari,the Presidentof the Barodabar association,filedanobscenitycase
againstherfor the same performance.InJanuary2011, Sherawatwasacquittedinone of the
casesbut VinodJainsaidthathe will appeal inthe Mumbai HighCourt.In the othercase,
Sherawatappealedtothe GujaratHigh Courtto drop the case,but the Court rejectedthe appeal
on 2 March 2013. On 16 August2013, the Supreme Courtof Indiastayedthe proceedingson
appeal.
 ShilpaShettyandRichardGere kissingincident:InApril 2007, effigiesof Hollywoodactor
RichardGere andBollywoodactress ShilpaShetty wereburntafterGere kissedShettyonthe
cheekat an AIDSawarenessfunctionin Delhi,andaRajasthancourt orderedGere'sarreston
obscenitycharges.The lawsuithadbeenfiledbyalawyernamedPoonamChandBhandari
claimedtohave beenannoyedbythe obscene act.Former AttorneyGeneral Soli Sorabjee
describedthe courtorderas reminiscentof the "Talibanmoral police".InApril 2008, the
Supreme Courtof Indiadroppedthe arrestwarrant againstGere and saidthat he is free toenter

11. and leave Indiaanytime.InNovember2011, the Supreme Courtshiftedthe case againstShetty
to a Mumbai court.
 In 2009, a obscenitycase wasfiledagainstactor AkshayKumarandhiswife Twinkle Khannaby
an activistnamedAnil Nair.Duringafashionshow inMumbai,Kumarhad allegedlywalked
downthe ramp and asked hiswife whowasseatedinthe frontto unbuttonhisjeans.
 In 2009, RajnikantBorile,asocial worker,filedanobscenitycase against MallikaSherawatin
Yavatmal,claimingshe hadperformedobsceneactsinhervariousfilmswhichaffectedthe
societyandthe youngergeneration.
 In December2011, a Nampally-basedlawyerSai KrishnaAzadfiledanobscenitycase against
actressVidyaBalan.Accordingto him, posterandadvesitisementof the film The DirtyPicture,
starringBalan,were spoilingthe mindsof people andcausingharmtothe society.The court
acceptedpetition,itdirectedpolice tobookBalanand take actionagainstthe posters.
 On 2 February2015, AkhileshTiwari,presidentof BrahmanEkta SevaSansthafiledacomplaint
againstfilm-makerKaranJohar,andactors ArjunKapoor andRanveerSingh inMumbai.They
claimedthattheyhad appearedina YouTube comedychannel's roasteventheldinDecember
2014, All IndiaBakchodKnockout,whose videoswereuploadedtothe internet.The complaint
accusedthe three of usingfilthylanguage.The Maharastragovernmentalsoorderedaninquiry.
The videoremovedfromon3 Februaryby the channel.Later,ina separate complaintfiledby
one Wazir ShaikhinPune,accusationsagainst14 people were included.Itnamed Deepika
Padukone,whowaskissedbyRanveerSingh. Sonakshi Sinhawasalsonamedinit. YouTube was
accusedto distributingthe obscenecontent.The chargesfiledwere IndianPenal CodeSection
292 (distributionof obscenecontent) andSection294(obscene actin publicplace);andSection
67a of IT Act (transmittingof material containingsexuallyexplicitactinelectronicform).
Other
 Some collegesanduniversitiesenforce a dresscode ontheirstudents,usuallyrestrictinggirls
fromwearingWesternclothing.The rationalebehindsuchrestrictionhasbeenstatedthatsuch
clothesattracts"eve-teasing".
Protests against moral policing
In 2009, following the 2009 Mangalore pub attack, an organisation called "Consortium of
Pubgoing, Loose Forward Women" started a movement called the "Pink chaddi campaign". The
movement requested people to mail pink underwear to Pramod Muthalik the leader of Sri Ram
Sena which was behind the attacks. About, 34,000 people participated.
In the state of Kerala, a public hugging and kissing campaign by name 'Kiss of Love' was
launched in protest against moral policing on 2 November 2014. Similar events were later
organized in Delhi, Kolkata, and various other cities.