Mumbai: Metropolitan Magistrate of the 16th Court at Ballard Pier has discharged actress Shilpa Shetty from a criminal case filed against her in 2007 in Alwar, Rajasthan for alleged offence of obscenity following an event where she allegedly was hugged and kissed by Hollywood actor Richard Gere in public.

A complaint was filed before the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Mundawar for offences under Indian Penal Code for obscenity and criminal conspiracy, section 67 of Information Technology Act 2000 (transmission of obscene material) along with section 4 and 6 of Indecent representation of women (prohibition) Act.

The case was transferred to Mumbai in 2017 on apex court orders.

Shetty had attended an AIDS awareness event in 2007 in Rajasthan, said her lawyer Madhukar Dalvi arguing her 2017 discharge plea and said the complaint against her is “baseless and frivolous.’’

The magistrate, Ketaki Chavan, in the order made ready on January 24, said, “after giving the prosecution and accused an opportunity of being heard, I am satisfied that charge against present accused ie Shilpa Shetty is groundless.’’

The accusation against Shetty was that the complainant read an article and saw photographs of their public display of affection. It also led to a nationwide protest where Shetty and Gere’s effigies were burnt on the streets.