Bollywood actress and reality TV show Big Boss fame Payal Rohatgi was arrested and sent to judicial custody - till December 24 - by Bundi District Court in Rajasthan on Monday. Moreover, the court also rejected Rohatgi's bail plea.
Earlier on Sunday Payal was detained by the Rajasthan Police allegedly for her comment against Congress leader Moti Lal Nehru, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Arguing for Payal Rohatgi, her lawyer Bhupedra Saxena told the court his client had freedom of expression that was guaranteed under the Constitution. "Whatever Payal Rohatgi said, it was not something of her own volition. She was quoting from MO Mathai's book". Moreover, her lawyer is planning an appeal against that rejection, "Also the freedom of expression is a right guaranteed under the Constitution and whatever", Payal's lawyer said.
In the video that was circulated on the internet, Payal is seen allegedly commenting that "Moti Lal Nehru was not the real father of Jawahar Lal Nehru".
In the wake on an FIR filed against Payal Rohatgi, the Rajasthan police on Sunday detained the model in Ahmadabad from her parents' house and brought her to Bundi (a district in Rajasthan), where the case was lodged against her. The Bundi Superintendent Police Mamta Gupta confirmed, 'Payal Rohatgi has been detained after she was found guilty in the preliminary investigation by the Bundi police. During the investigation, our team reached her residence in Mumbai. Later Rohtagi was found at her parent's home in Gujarat".
She has been booked under The IT Act section 67 (Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) and section 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 505 (Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report) of Indian Penal Code.
Rajasthan Youth Congress general secretary Charmesh Sharma had filed a complaint against model Payal Rohtagi had posted an objectionable video about Moti Lal Nehru, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi on Facebook in October at Bundi Sadar police station. Rajasthan police had formerly served a notice to Rohtagi for allegedly posting the objectionable video.
On Sunday morning Payal took broke the news of getting detained on his twitter handle. Her tweet went viral on social media where many of her followers accused the Congress government in Rajasthan for curbing freedom of expression in Rajasthan.
State unit of Bharatiya Janta Party lashed out at the Congress government for arresting Rohatgi. Spokesperson of BJP, Rajathan Laxmikant Bharadwaj said, "By arresting Payal Rohatgi, Congress government in Rajasthan has proved that they have a double face. Rajasthan police's act is shameful. The CM Gehlot who also happens to be the Home Minister should intervene".
Rohatgi who introduces herself as a 'proud Hindu and a Ram Bhakt’ on her verified Twitter handle is known for making controversial statements. She grabbed news attention for criticisizing the people of Kerala for not banning cow slaughter in the state and later her opinion about the Triple Talaq Ordinance.