Case against Shah Rukh and Salman: Court asks Delhi police to file ATR

New Delhi: Delhi Police was on Friday directed by a court to file an action taken report (ATR) on a criminal complaint against actors Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by entering the sets of a temple wearing shoes while shooting for a reality show.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate V K Gautam asked the Station House Officer of Roop Nagar Police Station to file on February 12, the ATR explaining as to what action it has taken on the complaint filed by advocate Gaurav Gulati.

"Fresh complaint received. Counsel for the applicant states that a complaint was also given to SHO of Roop Nagar Police Station. Let an ATR be called from SHO of Roop Nagar Police Station," the court said.

During the hearing, counsel for the complainant alleged that the two superstars have acted in a manner which has hurt the religious sentiments.

"This is a time when the country is dealing with growing intolerance. Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan have been openly sharing their ideas on intolerance and then they did this act of wearing shoes in the temple and showing their backs to the idol of Hindu Goddess 'Kali'. This could have been done intentionally by them," advocate Vikram Singh Saini, appearing for Gulati, argued.

The complaint filed by an advocate sought the court's direction to the police to register an FIR against the two actors, Colors channel and director and producer of reality show Bigg Boss 9 for alleged offences of sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 298 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

The advocate also said that the actors are holding a position by which they should act as role models for the coming generations. He also annexed the CD of the programme, in which the actors could be seen wearing shoes on the sets of the temple while shooting for the reality show, with his complaint.

The advocate claimed that he was aggrieved by the conduct of the police which has not taken any action on his complaint and sought court's direction to stop telecast of the programme.

The complaint alleged that in a video being circulated, Shah Rukh and Salman were seen wearing shoes on the sets of temple of goddess 'Kali' while shooting for an episode of Bigg Boss where the idol can be seen in the background.

"It has been seen by the complainant on YouTube on December 15, 2015 that both the actors were standing and moving on the sets of 'Kali Mata' temple wearing their shoes. It is a disrespect to the Hindu religion and its belief as it is strictly prohibited to come in the temple with shoes and also they were showing their back to the idol which is also deemed to be an insult to the Hindu goddess... (sic)," it has alleged.