Shilpa Shetty discharged in Richard Gere 'kissing' case after 15 years
Categories: FILM INDUSTRY
A Mumbai court on Tuesday discharged Shilpa Shetty in a 15-year-old obscenity case that involved her and Hollywood star Richard Gere. Ballard Pier Court Metropolitan Magistrate Ketaki M Chavan, while clearing the actress, noted in her order, that she had perused the case records particularly the complaint, and found that Shilpa Shetty was the victim of the alleged act by Gere. The case was filed against the Bollywood actress and the Hollywood actor back in 2007 during a public event where the American star kissed her on the stage. The incident took place during a charity event to promote AIDS awareness. After considering the records and hearing both sides, the court said it was satisfied that the charges against Shilpa Shetty have no grounds and hence granted the discharge. Seeking a discharge from the case, she said the only allegation against her was that she did not protest when Gere kissed her, but that does not make her a 'conspirator' or 'perpetrator' to the alleged offence. She also contended in her plea that the complaints against her were baseless and she was being targeted mainly due to her celebrity status.