from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Jun 30: The Goa Bench of Mumbai High Court issued notice to megastar Amitabh Bachchan and others related to anti-tobacco case on Monday June 30.

Goa-based anti-tobacco organization, National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) had filed case against Bachchan and others after the billboards showing the megastar smoking a cigar were raised on Goa highway.

The court, which heard the case on Monday, issued notice to Bachchan, Anchor Electric appliances, Keshu Ramsay and others which are returnable by July 28.

The notices are issued before admission and the respondents will have to appear in person or through lawyers, court officials stated.

NOTE had taken strong objection to Bachchan's poster from a film 'Family' which was displayed on the billboards raised along Panaji-Margao highway which showed the Big B smoking a cigar.

The organization had contended that the billboards were violating anti-tobacco laws applicable in the state.

The lower court had refused to entertain the case stating that there is no substance in it.

NOTE had challenged lower court's order with the High Court which came up for hearing on Monday.

Earlier when the organization had filed the case, superstar Amitabh Bachchan had apologised to an anti-tobacco group, which has slapped a legal notice on him.

"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 the General Secretary of National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) India Shekhar Salkar.

"The publicity banner carrying my photograph was a still from my film 'Family' in which I am portraying the character of an underworld don," he said in the letter which was  released by Salkar at a press conference in Panaji then.

"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 A B Corp Limited nor I have promoted Anchor products or tobacco products," he said.

"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.

The NOTE had issued legal notice to Bachchan on January 5 for violating Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.

"I am a teetotaller, 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 earlier.