Maxim faces action over bikini photo

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent
The chennai city police has over the last two days seized about 145 copies of the Indian edition of Maxim, the UK based men's magazine which published a morphed picture of actress Khushboo showing her in a red bikini. While on Wednesday the police seized 110 copies of the magazine from various parts of the city, another 35 were recovered from some city bookstores on Thursday, police commissioner R. Nataraj said.

Nataraj said action would be taken against the Editor and Publisher of Maxim for publishing the morphed picture of the actress, who has been in the thick of controversy over the last few months. Her remarks on pre-marital sex to the Tamil edition of India Today a couple of months ago had drawn a great deal of criticism besides making her the target of several legal cases. While that controversy has almost died down, Khusbhoo now finds herself drawn into a battle with Maxim.

On Monday, the actress petitioned ataraj seeking action against the UK-based magazine. The first issue of its Indian edition last month had carried a morphed picture of the ex-heroine dressed in a red transparent bikini, with a derogatory caption that read, "Of course, I am a virgin if you don't count from the behind". Khushboo has demanded that those responsible for the publication of the morphed picture be brought to book.As a first step, the police seized the copies of the magazine and obtained the address of the publisher from it, which it intends to use for initiating further action.

"We will act after studying them. Further investigation into the issue is on," Nataraj said. According to Inspector T. Inbakumar of the Central Crime Branch, who is investigating the Khushboo complaint, raids in various bookstores are continuing in the city.

Reacting to the seizure of the copies of Maxim, R Karthikeyan, the lawyer who is representing Khushboo said, "We are watching to see how the investigation progresses. Our papers are all ready for filing the defamation case in the city court. I am waiting for word from my client regarding the quantum of damages to seek in the petition."

Meanwhile Nataraj, responding to a question about the terrorist alert sounded in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai, said that the state capital was a calm city but however, an effective multi-tier security system was being maintained.

Day patrolling would also be intensified to prevent thefts. "We have been circulating pamphlets with important telephone numbers of police officials and the precautions that the people need to take to avert crime," Nataraj said, adding that 94 suspects had been picked up in January in connection with 134 cases.The commissioner handed over Rs 88,48,250 lakhs worth articles and jewels, besides cash, recovered from thieves, to the owners. Out of the items recovered, Rs 36 lakhs was in cash. In the last month alone, 38 persons have been arrested under the Goondas Act, he said.