KOCHI: Actor Mohanlal has approached the Kerala High Court against the order of Judicial First Class Magistrate, Thiruvannathapuram refusing to drop proceedings against him on a criminal case registered for appearing in a poster holding a cigar in the advertisement for his film 'Karma Yodha'.
The case has been initiated for the alleged contravention of Cigarettes and other Tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade, Commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act.
The High court Had granted an interim stay for two months from December, 2015. Mohanlal also sought extention of the stay.
When the case came up fore hearing before, Government Pleader Rajesh Vijayan opposed the plea and sought permission to continue the probe. He pointed out that the Rule cearly stated that non person or a character in films and television shall display tobacco products or their use.
The prosecution case is that actor participated in indirectly advertising tobacco products through posters of the film, which may give wrong message to children and youth. The advertising materials promoting the use of tobacco product were illegally pasted at public places with the knowledge of the accused, state argued.
The intention of the accused are to exploit maximum commercial benefit of this illegal act. The proceedings were initiated on a complaint by P K Raju, District health Officer (Rural) of District medical Office, Thrissur. Raju submitted that the claims of Mohanlal that the advertisement is not in violation of the act is not true.
Exhibiting the picture of the petitioner with tobacco product in his hand in the film poster is enough to attract the offense. Mohanal submitted that he is neither director, producer or distributor of film. The making of poster of film is under the control of distributor of film in which the actor did not have a role.