CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed authorities to not take any “coercive steps” until March 25 against actor Raveena Tandon and filmmaker Farah Khan in connection with a plea against them for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during a TV show.
The two celebrities, along with comedian Bharti Singh, were booked by Amritsar police in December on the basis of a complaint by Sonu Jafar, president of the Christian Front of Ajnala Block.
Tandon and Khan have petitioned the court, seeking quashing of the FIR and stay on the probe, contending that no offence was made out under IPC section 295A that they have been charged with.
On Thursday, Justice Ashok Kumar Verma issued a notice to Punjab Government and other respondents for March 25 and said, “Till then, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioners.”
Arguing the case for Tandon and Khan, advocate Abhinav Sood said, “None of the ingredients pertaining to offence under IPC Section 295-A are made out”.
The FIR was “illegal, ex-facie bad in law, and by virtue thereof the same be quashed and set aside,” he said, adding that the allegation against the celebrities was “vague and general in nature”. (AGENCIES)
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