SRK gets legal notice for smoking in public

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan was on Friday issued a legal notice by an NGO for smoking in public during the two recent events - the Twenty20 cricket match in Mumbai and a media summit in Delhi.

The NGO, National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) issued legal notice to the film actor for smoking in public during the two recent events - the Twenty20 cricket match in Mumbai and a media event in Delhi.

NOTE, an anti-tobacco NGO, which is already into a legal battle with megastar Amitabh Bachchan over his movie posters showing him smoking cigar, issued legal notice through its lawyer.

The NGO has threatened to sue Khan for promoting smoking in public places, which is banned under the Anti-Tobacco Act.

The notice to Khan has been issued under Sections 4 and 5 (3) of cigarette and other tobacco products (prohibition of advertisements and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act, 2003.

"Images of Shah Rukh Khan inhaling smoke were shown on Doordarshan during its telecast of the Twenty20 cricket match in Mumbai on October 20. The national television channel's telecast of such outrageous images is another act worth condemnation," NOTE general secretary Dr Shekhar Salkar said.

Prior to this incident, Khan was shown sitting on the dais with a lighted cigarette in his hand during a media event in Delhi on October 12 and 13, NOTE said.

These acts show the much-acclaimed actor and youth icon in a very poor light, the NGO mentioned.

A superstar, imitated and adored by millions cannot lend a helping hand to promote smoking, Salkar added.

TimesOfIndia