Jun 30 2008
Bachchan issued legal notice for violating Anti-Tobacco Act!
The Bollywood big star Amitabh Bachchan is issued a notice from Goa Bench of Mumbai High Court on Monday for allegedly violating the Anti-Tobacco Act after National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) had filed the case against Bachchan and others.
Along with Big B, Anchor Electric appliances, Keshu Ramsay and others were also issued the notice followed by a hearing of the case on Monday after billboards showing the megastar smoking a cigar were raised on the Goa highway.
The notices have been issued before admission and the respondents will have to appear in person or through lawyers, court officials said.
NOTE had taken strong objection to Bachchan’s still from a film Family which was displayed on the billboards raised along the Panaji-Margao highway depicting Big B smoking a cigar. The organization had contended the billboards violated anti-tobacco laws applicable in the state.
Earlier, the lower court had refused to entertain the case stating that there is no substance in it. Bachchan had apologized to NOTE but the organization than challenged the case in high court who issued the notice against them.
“I am deeply apologetic of the advertisement that has hurt the sentiments of the people at large and organizations such as yours,” Bachchan had said in a letter to NOTE India general secretary Shekhar Salkar.
Bachchan tried to make the things clear by saying in the letter that: The publicity banner carrying my photograph was a still from my film Family in which I am portraying the character of an underworld don.
“While I was not instrumental in designing the publicity campaign, I find from the photograph of the billboard stated to be put out on NH 17 in Goa that the manufacturers of Anchor electric switches are seeking to promote their own products. Neither B Corp Limited nor I have promoted Anchor products or tobacco products.” He added
“I have made a note of anti-tobacco legislation and informed my producers and told them to take immediate steps so that no such violation takes place as far as I am concerned,” he said.
“I am a teetotaler, I do not drink nor smoke and I have not indulged in these activities for almost 30 years and have no intentions of indulging in them in the future,” Bachchan had said in his letter.
NOTE had issued legal notice to Bachchan on January five for violating Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.
