IPL CHEERLEADER CONTROVERSY

Maharashtra unlikely to ban cheerleaders at IPL matches

The Maharashtra government on Friday indicated a ban on cheerleaders at IPL T20 matches may not be enforced saying prima facie "there appears to be no violation of obscenity norms".

"There is a ban on dance bars in the state, not on dance," Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil told mediapersons.

However, Patil, who holds the Home portfolio, made it clear that if any police official feels the performance of cheerleaders at the forthcoming matches as obscene, he can take "necessary action".

"I am awaiting a report on this issue, which is expected by Saturday and then only would be able to comment further," Patil said.

"But prima facie, there appears to be no violation of obscenity norms."

Asked if he had seen the performance of cheerleaders or their reportage in media, Patil replied in the negative.

"The existing law on dance bars stipulates that dancing and serving alcohol cannot be done at the same place," Patil said.

When his attention was drawn to the statements by his deputy Sidhram Mhetre that cheerleaders may be banned, Patil quipped, "It seems he has not read the law properly."

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh interjected: "The stadium where IPL matches are being held is not a bar."

Asked if the skimpily-clad cheerleaders, flown in from abroad, had proper work permit visas, Patil said "Anyone wanting to perform should have a proper visa... merely a tourist visa will not suffice."

IPL cheerleaders get a cover-up

Cricket fans at the IPL match in Nerul were in for a double treat. Not only were there cheergirls, but also cheerboys to encourage the spectators at the Dr D Y Patil Sports Stadium on Sunday. But restraint was shown in dress as well as dance.

The cheerleaders for the Mumbai Indians appeared in shiny blue lycra suits that covered their entire bodies under matching silvery skirts. What surprised the fans was the presence of male cheerleaders.

"Wow, they have girls and boys too," said one of the fans as they cheered on their favourites, the Mumbai Indians, who were playing the Team Hyderabad.

Following the recent statements of the Navi Mumbai police, that they would strictly monitor cheerleaders on closed circuit television to check if they were doing anything "vulgar", there were restrained dance steps performed at the stadium.

The cheerleaders mostly did aerobics on the ground to be on the safe side of the law.

Navi Mumbai police commissioner Ramrao Wagh was himself present at the stadium to watch the match.

Approximately 30 minutes before the match started, the cheerleaders were brought into the stadium in a minibus under tight security. Wagh said that he found the cheerleaders to be "well behaved". The cheerleading troupe danced to Hindi film tunes.

However, the controversy surrounding the cheerleaders was soon forgotten by the fans as the players made their way out to play.

A cricket official told TOI: "Everything is going smoothly and we are happy the security and other arrangements are perfect. The crowd’s reaction showed that the people are not here to just oogle at the cheerleaders but to watch the match and enjoy it."