KOLHAPUR: Bollywood "item girl" Rakhi Sawant on Thursday pleaded guilty in a case of alleged obscenity in the pre-trial stage and offered to pay the maximum fine of Rs 1,200 prescribed under the law but the court decided to give its ruling on July 28.
Sawant on Thursday did not appear in response to summons but her lawyer Jaideep Thakkar filed an application pleading guilty on her behalf and said she was ready to pay fine prescribed under the provisions of Bombay Police Act.
Prosecutor objected to her plea saying she has to remain personally present to plead guilty and argued that her lawyer could not plead on her behalf.
Sawant's lawyer argued that under Section 51 of Bombay Police Act an accused can plead guilty through his or her advocate and send the fine amount through money order.
The court would give its ruling on July 28 whether her plea for accepting guilt should be accepted without insisting on her presence.
The chief judicial magistrate had earlier issued warrant asking Sawant to appear in person before him today on charges of performing in revealing outfits in a stage show, but instead she chose to plead guilty through her lawyer.
She said from Mumbai that she had accepted the guilt without going into the merits of the case because she did not want to travel that far.
Police inspector U K Sawant of Shahupuri police station had registered a case against her alleging that she had worn revealing outfits while performing in a show recently, thereby committing obscenity offence under the provisions of Bombay police Act which covers entire Maharashtra.
The court was jam-packed as a large number of people had turned up to have a glimpse of the actor.
The Kolhapur show was organised last month by Highwards group of companies. The organiser, Gaurav Thakur, has also been booked along with Sawant.
The court granted bail to Thakur on Thursday in the sum of Rs 3,000.
Meanwhile, Thakur has moved a sessions court here challenging the charges levelled against him in the complaint. His appeal would be heard in due course, defence lawyer Jaideep Thakker said.
