Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday refused to restrain media organisations as well as social media platforms from publishing information related to actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra.
Hearing the plea filed by the actress in the Hon. Justice Gautam Patel made it clear that Shilpa Shetty’s plea will have a “chilling effect on the freedom of press”. He further said that “reportage of something based on what police have said is mandatory”.
Advocate Biren Saraf, appearing for Shilpa Shetty argued that it was “something between a husband and wife, and should not have been reported”. The court replied that Shilpa Shetty is a public figure and such articles are not defamatory.
“You choose a public life. Your life is under a microscope. Firstly, articles saying she cried and fought with her husband when her statement was recorded, is not defamatory. It shows that she is a human,” said Justice Gautam Patel. While securing her Right to Privacy, he clarified in his order that none of the reportage on Shilpa Shetty should pertain to the parenting of her children.
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta who has been at the receiving end of a volley of criticism has come out in support of the actress. Through a series of tweets, the Scam 1992 director asked to give Shilpa Shetty some privacy and pointed out how public figures are often declared guilty even before justice is meted out.