India suspends 'obscene' Fashion TV channel

Indian authorities frown at nudity on the ramp

India suspends Fashion TV (FTV) for 10 days for showing topless models during a show last year.

Officials said that FTV had violated several provisions of the Cable Television Networks rules by showing women in an "obscene" manner.

The ban comes into effect at 1900 local time (1330GMT), the information and broadcasting ministry said.

In 2007, FTV was suspended for two months for showing skimpily-clad models in the "Midnight Hot" show.

The prohibition was revoked less than a month later after the channel offered an apology and promised not to broadcast such material again.

The latest ban is for a programme aired in September 2009 when the channel showed "women with nude upper body which was offending against good taste and decency", the ministry said in a statement.

"The visuals were found to be obscene, denigrating women and were not suitable for children and unrestricted public exhibition," the statement added.