AIB Roast Controversy: Deepika Padukone Gets Temporary Relief; Court Refrains Police from Arresting Actress till Mid-March

The All India Bakchod (AIB) roast show, featuring Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, kicked up storm after several police complaints were filed accusing them as well as several others for having indulged in obscene behaviour and abusive language in a public place.

However, Deepika Padukone, accused of being a part of the audience, has got temporary relief from the Bombay High Court (HC).

The HC had restrained the Mumbai police from taking any action against her until final hearing on 16 March, reported Bollywood Life.

According to the daily, Singh's alleged girlfriend Padukone's lawyer Ameet Nayak argued in the HC stating that the actress was a mere audience and that she didn't participate in the show.

The FIR has been filed under sections 292 (Distribution of obscene content or lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest), section 67a of IT Act (Publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc. in electronic form), section 294 (Obscene Act in public place) and Section 509 (act intended to insult modesty of women) of the Indian Penal Code.

"The Maharashtra Region and Town Planning Act does not apply as she was a spectator. Sections 294 and 509 cannot apply," said her lawyer in a statement.

There were also reports that the Bollywood stars may face jail term of five to 10 years and a fine of upto ₹2 lakh, if found guilty.

Apart from Padukone, Johar, Singh, Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Sonakshi Sinha and several others who were named in the FIR, have also been relieved from arrest until the final hearing.

AIB is a comic group comprising stand-up comedians Ashish Shakya, Tanmay Bhat, Rohan Joshi and Gursimran Khamba. The controversial AIB Knockout show was held in mid-December 2014 in Mumbai and was attended by about 4000 people.