Ludhiana court rejects bail of Rakhi, issues arrest warrant

A Ludhiana court today rejected the bail plea of actress Rakhi Sawant and a issued fresh arrest warrant in a case related to "objectionable" remarks by her against Valmiki, the author of the epic Ramayana.
Judicial Magistrate Vishav Gupta directed that she be produced bafore the court on August 7.
On June 2, the court while issuing a non-bailable warrant against her had asked the police commissioner of Ludhiana to ensure that she was produced before the court today.
To escape public attention, Sawant had appeared before the court wearing a burqa yesterday, a day ahead of the expiry of the warrant against her. She was granted bail.

The actress had tendered "an unconditional apology" to the Valmiki community after its members voiced outrage over her alleged remarks.
Local advocate Narinder Adiya had filed the complaint against Sawant on July 9 last year, claiming her comments - allegedly made on a private television channel - had hurt the sentiments of the Valmiki community.
The judicial magistrate's court had issued an arrest warrant against her on March 9.
Under instructions from the court, a two-member team of Ludhiana police had left for Mumbai with the arrest warrant in April, but returned empty handed.