Quashing a case against 13 men who were arrested for allegedly indulging in obscene acts with women in a flat, the Bombay High Court has said any such action done in a private place is not a criminal offence under the Indian Penal Code.

A division bench of Justices N H Patil and A M Badar was hearing a petition recently filed by the men seeking quashing of the FIR registered against them by Andheri Police in December last year under IPC section 294 (anyone indulging in an obscene act in any public place or sings or utters any obscene songs or words in any public place causing annoyance to others).