Shetty arrested over Gere clinch

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has been arrested at Mumbai airport in the continuing storm surrounding her public clinch with the Hollywood actor Richard Gere earlier this year. The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant was held by immigration officials while en-route to attend the opening of the Miss Bollywood musical in Berlin yesterday. Shetty sparked protests in India in April when she allowed herself to be embraced and kissed by Gere at an Aids-awareness event. Hard-line Hindus claimed that the action was in violation of the country's anti-obscenity laws. However, an initial ban on the actor leaving India was later overturned in a ruling by the Indian supreme court. Immigration officials in Mumbai were reported to have been unaware of this ruling when they made the arrest. Shetty was eventually released after prolonged questioning by officials. "She called me in the middle of the night and was in tears," said her spokesman, Dale Bhagwager.