HC refuses relief to Rakhi Sawant over suicide abetment case

A case of abetment of suicide was registered against her at Prem Nagar police station in Jhansi this month, after the death of one Lakshman Ahrwar at the MCB Medical College Hospital there. Ahrwar had participated in the reality show 'Rakhi ka Insaaf', aired on Imagine, anchored by the actress.

Participants in the show present their marital disputes, and Rakhi who tries resolving them. Ahrwar, whose relations with the wife were strained, had participated in the show which was aired on October 23.

Rakhi castigated him in strong words, and according to his relatives, he committed suicide because of the public humiliation. But Rakhi's petition in Bombay High Court stated that hospital certified it to be a natural death, and there was no post mortem.

She had also urged the court to grant her interim protection from arrest, but today division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A P Bhangale pointed out that Bombay High Court can not grant her such an interim relief. Her lawyer Satish Maneshinde then withdrew the case, saying he would move an "appropriate court".

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had yesterday directed TV channel Imagine airing 'Rakhi ka Insaf' to shift the telecast of the show between 11 PM to 5 AM citing "abusive" language, "objectionable" content and divulging of "intimate" details on the shows.

The programmes is not for universal viewing and can be aired only in the scheduled time slot, the ministry told the channel in a written order, giving them a virtual A-certificate. In it's directive the ministry said that Rakhi uses vulgar and abusive language in the programme.

"Preview of the content telecast in this reality show has revealed that the anchor/host poses certain questions to the participants relating to their personal lives which are not found suitable for unrestricted public exhibition. "It has also been noted that participants often reveal intimate details of their relationships, resulting in great embarrassment to the viewers watching the programme along with their families and also to the participants in the show," the directive said.