Mumbai, June 5 (IANS) Actress Shilpa Shetty has rejected the obscenity charges levelled against her in a court suit, saying she was a responsible citizen who would not do anything to offend people's sensibilities.

"It seems to be yet another publicity stunt on the part of those who want to gain mileage by suing celebrities, to be famous in their hometowns," said the star's publicist Dale Bhagwagar.

On June 2, a Madurai court rejected a petition filed by Shilpa and Reema Sen seeking recall of non-bailable warrants issued against them in the case filed by a city advocate.

"Shilpa is a responsible actress and citizen, and would not participate in anything crude. She is being made a scapegoat. She is paying the price for being a celebrity, and that too, on an issue which is as frivolous as terming a simple and decent photograph obscene," added Bhagwagar.

The photograph in question is actually a freeze-frame shot from her recent super-hit Kannada film "Auto Shankar". The photo, appearing in publicity hoardings, was taken from the censored version of the film, and was later reproduced by Tamil Murasu, an eveninger.

Dakshinamoorthy, the lawyer, filed the case against Shilpa, Reema and Murugan, the editor of Tamil Murasu, for controversial picture.

"This is not a photo-shoot picture for which Shilpa has posed, neither can it be termed as one that offends sensibilities, as all it shows is Shilpa's navel. Can that be called obscene?" asked an amused Bhagwagar.