Big B need not be present in the court

PANJIM: Bollywood shenshah Amitabh Bachchan doesn't remain to be present in the Court during hearing of a complaint filed by National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE).

The High Court after hearing the matter has issued a stay on the process issued by the Trial Court. The Sessions Court, Panjim, had dismissed the revision application filed by M/s Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL), Mumbai.

M/s ABCL had approached the Sessions Court praying that pending the hearings and disposal of the revision application, the process issued by the Judicial Magistrate First Class be stayed and sought ad-interim ex-parte relief. In their revision application, M/s ABCL claimed that there was no prima facie case and that the JMFC ought not to have issued process against them and Bachchan, who is the chairman of the company.

However, Sessions Court judge U Bakre dismissed the revision application. In other words, the JMFC's order on November 21 stands. On November 21, the trial Court had issued summons to Amitabh Bachchan, Keshu Ramsay, M/s DMS Films Private Limited, Mumbai and M/s Anchor Daewoo India Limited to appear before the court on November 29, following a complaint filed by NOTE on January 25, 2006, for displaying hoardings showing Amitabh Bachchan smoking a cigar and endorsing an electrical appliance of M/s Anchor Daewoo India Limited under the brand name `Anchor.'

According to NOTE, the hoardings were in gross violation of Cigarettes and Tobacco and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulations of the Trade and Commerce, Production Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 and under section 7 of Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act, 1997.

Keshu Ramsay is the director of M/s DMS Films Private Limited, Mumbai and co-producer of the film `Family' along with M/s ABCL, Mumbai.