Malegaon blast undertrial files obscenity suit against newspaper

Malegaon blast undertrial and retired army major Ramesh Upadhyay has sued a national newspaper for publishing a semi-nude photo of an international model whose private parts were hidden with a saree featuring the Indian tricolour. Upadhyay, after seeing the photo and related article published in the entertainment supplement of the newspaper on August 19 (pg 5), filed a case with the Panvel Judicial Magistrate First Class (JFMC).

Upadhyay alleged that such kind of pictures have hurt the sentiments of many and is an act of insult to the national flag.

As per Section 200 of the criminal procedure, Upadhyay has filed a lawsuit against the company that runs the newspaper, an employee of the newspaper responsible for the selection of the photo, Mumbai-based DJ and reality show artist Jenny D and fashion photographer Vicky Idnani.

The article was published with the headline: ‘I was not completely nude.’ The photo was clicked by Idnani who is working on an awareness campaign for a Mumbai-based NGO. The newspaper that published the article had sourced the photo from the internet.

The lawsuit was ordered to be registered as a complaint with Kharghar Police Station as per section 156 (3) of the CrPC.

The order was passed on September 29, following which it was registered with the Kharghar police on October 10. The court has asked for the report of the case by November 8.