The actress Kushboo saw a case filed against her by a Hindu Makkal Katchi worker for apparently sitting with her footwear on a dais, where the idols of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi had been kept. The Madras High Court granted a stay in the case.

The complainant contended that she had thereby shown disrespect and sought action against her under Sections 295, 295A and 296 of the Indian Penal Code.

Section 295 of the Code deals with the injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class of persons. It says that whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons shall be punished with either simple or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. A person who does such an act with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as a insult to their religion is also liable to be punished under this section.

Section 295A speaks of deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. It says that whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. The insult may be by either spoken or written words, by signs, by visible representations or in some other way.

Finally, Section 296 of the Indian Penal Code makes disturbing a religious assembly an offence. It says that whoever voluntarily causes disturbance to any assembly lawfully engaged in the performance of religious worship, or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

How, precisely, the complainant thinks that the actress committed these offences is unclear.