Khusboo's comment on virginity irks SC

January 20, 2010

TNN, 20 January 2010, 02:04am IST

NEW DELHI: A four-year-old statement of south-Indian film actress Khusboo on

pre-marital sex and virginity came under adverse light in the Supreme Court,

which on Tuesday questioned her on the necessity for such an " extensive wise

comment " .

When her counsel, senior advocate Pinky Anand, read out a portion of her

interview to a magazine whose translated version in a Tamil newspaper created

furore and led to filing of 23 cases against her all over the country, the court

wanted to know the exact sequence of the question and answer and asked the

counsel to supply it in two weeks.

Anand said Khusboo had only asked questions about pre-marital sex and AIDS.

Terming these as part of her right to freedom of speech and expression, she read

out a part of the interview -- " none of the educated people will insist that

their bride be a virgin " .

As soon as she read this, a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and

Justices J M Panchal and B S Chauhan asked, " Why did you make such an extensive

wise statement on virginity? " However, it immediately clarified that it was not

saying whether a case was made out against her or not on this basis.

Like M F Hussain, Gere and Shilpa Shetty, Khusboo had rushed to the SC

and got a stay on proceedings in 23 complaint cases filed against her for her

comments in the year 2005. The Madras High Court, reflecting on the hue and cry

raised in Tamil Nadu over the controversial comments, had refused to stay

proceedings in trial courts.

Terming the complaints as " false, frivolous and malafide " , Anand said Khusboo's

comment to a news magazine was in response to a survey on pre-marital sex in big

cities in India and was a bonafide opinion.

She said her fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression could not be

curtailed by persons with vested interest, who has systematically unleashed a

series of complaints against her.

She said Khusboo's comments to the magazine were distorted by the local media in

Tamil Nadu and published in a manner making it appear provocative and

misleading.

" The petitioner understands and believes that the issue has been twisted by

persons having inimical feelings towards her as a measure to meet their selfish

and vested motives, " Anand said.

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