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How a tweet about the Pope landed Hrithik Roshan in legal trouble

How a tweet about the Pope landed Hrithik Roshan in legal trouble

The actor may have thought he was being funny but the wisecrack has landed him in hot water with the law
31 Mar, 2016

It seems like Hrithik Roshan's legal troubles are far from over.

The actor may have thought that he was being funny when he tweeted that he was "more likely to be dating the Pope" than any of the actresses the media had been linking him up with recently.

However, the wisecrack has landed the actor in hot water; Roshan was served a legal notice by Abraham Mathai, the former vice chairman of the State Minorities Commission. Mathai is also the president of Indian Christian Voice and has accused Hrithik for hurting the sentiments of the Christian community with his careless remark.

Also read: Did Hrithik Roshan propose to Kangana Ranaut?

Mathai’s lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee said the notice has been sent to the 42-year-old actor under the provision of Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code asking the actor to apologize in seven days; if not, a criminal complaint will follow.

The notice also said that by making such a statement on a public platform, Hrithik has not only wilfully challenged the chastity of the respected Pope but has also shown him in poor light.

“Thus malafidely, mischievously and intentionally outraged the religious feelings and insulted the religious beliefs of Romans Catholics all over the world who consider the Pope to be absolutely chaste as their spiritual and religious leader,” the notice read.

In an interview with Scroll India, Mathai stated, “Hrithik Roshan has the right to have a relationship with anyone, but he doesn’t have the right to draw in the pope. This has unfortunate inferences – it suggests that the pope is gay. I’ve asked Roshan for an unconditional apology. It hurts the Catholic community for whom the pope is a revered personality.”

Tsk tsk, when will you learn, Hrithik?

Comments

Khan Mar 31, 2016 01:13pm
He didn't really mean to date Pope. He was just being sarcastic and funny. He is super straight. The whole incident is blown out of proportion.
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sreenivas Mar 31, 2016 01:16pm
Does Dating Means Sex? sorry . In broader perspective it should be taken as time to spend with Learned Pope in religious matters. People makes Mountain from Mole hill
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Tomasz K. Mar 31, 2016 01:22pm
Hrithik's tweet was disgusting, arrogant, ignorant and brainless. This guy is losing respect, quite speedily.
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Rustom E Hind Mar 31, 2016 01:39pm
i am a roman catholic and I am not hurt by this comments mathai and siddqui use some other means for publicity u do not represent the catholic church did any priest file a complain? we believe in forgive and forget, and anyway hritik did not mean any harm or was not malicious
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Truth only Mar 31, 2016 01:46pm
Another attention seeker...this sec 295a should be scrapped to protect free speech
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Humanity Mar 31, 2016 01:52pm
I can't see his comments as offensive. If any Christian lacks sense of humour and gets offended by any comment, it doesn't mean they will judge what is to be the limit of expression. If they don't like it, they need not listen. The actor may or may not apologise under pressure but he did no wrong. My views are same for Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Jews etc.
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Ahmer Mar 31, 2016 02:03pm
It is very easy now to offend someone.
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Helping Hands Mar 31, 2016 02:08pm
Rocks in head!
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Philosopher (from Japan) Mar 31, 2016 02:08pm
Making mountain out of a molehill.
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Muhammed Ali Mar 31, 2016 02:11pm
Grow up.. its not the end of the World.
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Rajput Mar 31, 2016 02:16pm
Hello my fellow Indians, no one for freedom of speech now??? Damn us Hippocrates!!
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ruby Mar 31, 2016 02:25pm
it is a joke, please, lighten up INDIA
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Philosopher (from Japan) Mar 31, 2016 02:37pm
I hope he learns a lesson.
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Indian Mar 31, 2016 02:38pm
#intolerance sad :(
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Dipak Singh Mar 31, 2016 04:18pm
But still PK movie is Super Duper Hit in India...!
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divergence Mar 31, 2016 04:19pm
Price of being a celebrity, spend your life apologizing to people.
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Good taste Mar 31, 2016 04:35pm
@ AHMER It has always been very easy to offend someone. It is much harder to be respectful.
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Masood Mar 31, 2016 04:52pm
It is just a matter of speech. It is when you want to demonstrate the extremity of your point. Like this is " Never Going To Happen". He could also have said " It is like me marrying Indira Gandhi."
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SR Khan, Chitral Mar 31, 2016 05:38pm
Pope is a religious figure and revered by millions of people across the globe, a disrespect to him is a disrespect to the feelings of millioins.
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Vijay Mar 31, 2016 07:39pm
@Khan People at Hrithik's level have to watch every word they say or tweet. His tweet is offensive.
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Zahid Siddique Apr 01, 2016 10:03pm
@sreenivas You should be a lawyer if you aren't one already :)
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