Sherlyn Chopra approaches Mumbai Court seeking anticipatory bail in porn racket case

Bollywood actress Sherlyn Chopra has approached Mumbai sessions court seeking anticipatory bail in the porn racket case, apprehending arrest like co-accused Raj Kundra (Sherlyn Chopra v. State of Maharashtra).The case was heard by the Additional Sessions Judge Sonali Agarwal on Tuesday. Advocate Siddhesh Borkar appearing for Chopra, submitted that the First Information Report (FIR) in which Chopra apprehends arrest was registered in February 2021 for offences under Sections 292, 293 (sale of obscene material) under the Indian Penal Code, Sections 67, 67A (transmission of sexually explicit material) under the Information Technology Act and provisions of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act..Borkar submitted that Chopra had been served with a summons notice under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for recording of statement as witness in the case. Borkar argued that other accused under the FIR had been arrested without service of notice under Section 41A of CrPC and Chopra apprehends a similar treatment. .He submitted that that Chopra is not aware of the contents in FIR as she was neither given a copy of the FIR nor was she informed of the specific allegations levelled against her.She also apprehends that she may be implicated in the case which contain certain non-bailable offences without knowledge of the true and correct facts in the FIR, it was contended. .Borkar made two fold submissions for grant of anticipatory bail:That under principles of natural justice Chopra is entitled to be informed of the entire case against her before getting an opportunity to place her case before the investigating officer,That her custody was unwarranted as the evidence was in electronic form and her custody would not be required. .At this point, the prosecution assured the Court that Chopra had been summoned only for recording of statement. Borkar responded that Chopra is ready and willing to co-operate with the investigation, however she only fears arrest in the same manner as the others in the case. .The Sessions Judge kept the matter for further hearing on July 29, 2021. .Kundra, a co-accused in the same FIR, has meanwhile approached the Bombay High Court assailing his remand to police custody and all subsequent orders passed by the Mumbai Magistrate Court in relation to a pornographic film racket case..He was arrested by the Mumbai Police on Monday and produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate at Esplanade, who remanded him to police custody till July 23, 2021,which was extended till July 27.On Tuesday, the Magistrate remanded Kundra to judicial custody for 14 days.