MUMBAI, July 25: Comedy proved painful for veteran actor and comedian G K Asrani. He along with actress Guddi Maruti were accused of making derogatory reference in a Hindi film `Karz Chukana Hai' released over six years ago. A criminal case was filed against the duo, the producer and the director for hurting the sentiments of Ulhasnagar residents.

Following a summons Asrani and Maruti were granted bail on Thursday by the Ulhasnagar first class judicial magistrate Vyas.

A Congress corporator Hardas Makhija offered a surety for both the accused.

Summons were issued for two other accused, producer and director Vimal Kumar and story writer Gyandev Agnihotri to appear in court on August 28, the date for next hearing. A criminal case was filed against the film makers and actors by Gurmukhdas Juryani, honorary secretary of the `Ulhasnagar Citizen Welfare Association' in 1991 alleging that a scene from their Hindi film had hurt the sentiments of the people of the Ulhasnagar.

Giving details of the offending scene in the film, the complainant stated that Asrani acted as a `milk vendor'. He visits Guddi Maruti who `always complains to the vendor that the milk he sells is adulterated with water'. Tauntingly she asks, ``If the buffalo whose milk you sell belongs to Ulhasnagar?'' The milk vendor replies, ``Ulhasnagar is far away and I can not bring the buffaloes from Ulhasnagar.''

Juryani's advocate, R S Vardani, revealed Ulhasnagar residents took out morchas protesting the offending remarks, posters and cassettes of the film were burnt and demanded a ban on the film's screening in any part of India.

Meanwhile, Asrani's advocate, Bhojraj Jeswani claimed the comedy actor has expressed unconditional apology in the presence of the media persons. This is a second case of this nature filed in the court in recent times.

Ulhasnagar residents had hauled up Shatrughan Sinha and other actors for alleged uncomplimentary reference to their suburb in films.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.