An Indian judge ordered the arrest of Hollywood star Richard Gere and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty on Thursday over a hug and kiss at an Aids-awareness event.

The arrest warrants were issued in the Rajasthan state capital of Jaipur following a public-interest plea filed last week by resident Poonam Chand Bhandari accusing the pair of obscenity, court officials said.

“Additional chief judicial magistrate Dinesh Gupta issued the [arrest] orders,” a court official said from Jaipur, 375km from Jodhpur.

Gere embraced the 31-year-old Shetty — winner of Britain’s Celebrity Big Brother reality show — and planted several kisses on her cheek in front of thousands of onlookers at the Aids function in the Indian capital, New Delhi, earlier this month.

The incident triggered a public storm in India, known for its chaste public behaviour despite Bollywood’s sexually suggestive song-and-dance routines.

There was no immediate comment available from either of the stars on the arrest warrants.

The kissing incident triggered protests across the country with demonstrators burning effigies of Gere.

News reports have identified the Jaipur complainant as a lawyer and said he had accused the duo of committing “an obscene act” in a public place.

Another complaint was filed in court earlier this month against the stars in Ghaziabad, a satellite city of New Delhi. The complainants’ lawyer, Ramautar Gupta, said at the time: “It is all indecency and nudity, which our society cannot tolerate.”

Obscenity is punishable by a maximum of two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 2 000 rupees (about R315) in India.

Checkout Shilpa Shetty Kiss Wallpapers here

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