MUMBAI: Rajasthan court has summoned actor Shah Rukh Khan on Thursday.
On April 9, a complaint was submitted against the 47 year old actor, by the Director of a cricket academy – Anand Singh Rathore.
The plaintiff alleged that despite a ban on public smoking in Rajasthan, Khan, who also owns franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, smoked openly in front of thousands of cricket fans at Sawai Man Singh Stadium.
After taking cognizance of this complaint, the court has asked the actor to be attend the hearing. "Metropolitan Magistrate Shilpa Sameer issued the summons asking Khan to be present in the Court on May 26. The summons will be delivered to his residence by the police," said advocate Nem Singh Rathore to the press.
"Cognizance was taken under various sections of Rajasthan Prohibition of Smoking and Non-Smokers’ Health Protection Act, 2000," explained the Lawyer. Newspaper reports, video clippings of the broadcasting channel and other evidences were placed before the Court.
In his complaint, Anand Singh stated that public smoking is banned under law in the state for the past 12 years. Khan smoked in the stadium despite the presence of prominent politicians like Union minister CP Joshi, state cabinet ministers Shanti Dhariwal and Bina Kak.
"I, too, was watching the match when the channel showed Shah Rukh smoking. I was stunned to see the actor, who is such a huge public figure, smoking publically like this," said Anand Singh Rathore. He feels that this is not a good message for the youth amongst whom Khan has a huge fan following. "They idolise him and his behaviour sent a negative message to his admirers," he explained.
If Khan doesn’t appear before the court on May 26 and doesn’t give appropriate reason for his absence, the court may summon him through a bailable arrest warrant.
