Case registered against IPL organisers, say TN police

Tamil Nadu police today informed the Madras High Court Bench that a case had been registered against IPL organisers for arranging and telecasting "uncensored and indecent show by semi-nude dancers" during the inauguration of the tournament.

Counsel for BCCI, who was also included as respondent, opposed the FIR and said it was registered only to satisfy the court, which had only ordered them to consider the representation of the petitioner.

Justice N Kirubakaran, in a suo moto order, directed that Information and Broadcasting Ministry also be included as a respondent and posted the case for further hearing on Sept 5.

BCCI counsel described the case as "an exceptional one" and said police should not have registered it without proper investigation. BCCI said they were not responsible as they were not directly involved in arranging the inaugural and had engaged "some other person" to organise it.

Petitioner's counsel Peter Ramesh Kumar wondered how police had allowed such "obscene" scenes to be enacted in public and also telecast globally when they do not permit street plays on Lord Muruga's celestial wedding with Valli in small villages.

Another petitioner K Jebakumar, an advocate, submitted that when thousands of children and youngsters came for the IPL inaugural, the function was "celebrated" by celebrities from the sporting and tinsel world by singing and dancing.

Police should have registered cases against dancers in "obscene dress" and others under IPC sec 292,293,294 (read with 109 (Indecent representation of women(Prohibition act)and Young persons(Harmful publications act/Foreigners act and pass port act(for violation of visa conditions), he said.

Government counsel said cases had been registered as per the complaint. The court had already issued a direction to consider the complaint given earlier by the petitioner. But police had not taken any action for such open obscene display.

"Hence the court should invoke its inherent power and direct the DGP to register a case against the accused and investigate the case as per law," he said.