Bollywood starlet Rakhi Sawant has been arrested for making objectionable remarks against sage Valmiki, who wrote the mythological Hindu epic 'Ramayana'.

A local court in Ludhiana issued the arrest warrant against Sawant on March 9 on the basis of a complaint filed against her for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of the Valmiki community with the comments she made in a programme last year, police said on Sunday.

While speaking about the controversy created in the name of Valmiki, the 38-year-old actress told ANI that she used the example of Valmiki's change of soul to explain the change in her friend and singer Mika Singh, when he was accused in an assault case.

"I just gave an example from what I have read in my childhood. Just like Valmiki, who got changed from being a robber to a saint, Mika ji also has changed. It was just an example," she said.

Sawant had failed to appear before the court during the last hearing held on March 9 despite the court issuing her repeated summons. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for April 10.