Non-smoker Bachchan gets legal notice for cigar in ad

A legal notice has been served on megastar Amitabh Bachchan and a firm ‘‘Anchor’’ that manufactures electric equipment, for alleged violation of the Tobacco Products Act, 2003. The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE-India) has sent the notice.

NOTE-India says hoardings put up along the National Highway in Goa showing Bachchan with a cigar in his mouth were in violation of the Act. ‘‘They have to reply within eight days or else the organisation will move HC,’’ NOTE-India’s Shekhar Salkar said.

The hoarding appeared on December 25 and remained along the highway for around a week till NOTE-India brought out an advertisement in a local daily condemning it. The picture of Bachchan used in the hoarding is said to be from a yet-to-be released movie, Family. ‘‘Although Amitabh is a non-smoker, his picture posing with a cigar will influence the youth,’’ Salkar said. ‘‘NOTE has taken strong objection to the hoarding. Amitabh is shown with a cigar in his mouth,’’ he said.