Odishatv Bureau
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued notices to Amitabh Bachchan and Sony Television in response to a PIL which challenges a promo in `Kaun Banega Crorepati` claiming it has insulted and maligned the slogan `Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azadi doonga`, coined by Subhash Chandra Bose.

The notices were issued by Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice G S Godbole who asked the Bollywood actor, anchor of the show, and Sony TV Channel to file a reply by July 28.

The court also asked the petitioner to make the union ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well as Advertisement Standard Council of India as respondents.

Counsel for Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Rui Rodrigues argued that the promo was not derogatory but was funny and it argued that the examining committee had gone into it before clearing the same.

The PIL, filed by Mukesh Sharma, said there were six scenes in Hindi which were meant to promote the reality show, "Kaun Banega Crorepati-4" and increase its TRP.

However, he found them insulting, defamatory and maligning the slogan. The PIL said it was surprising why the legendary actor did not excuse himself from playing his act in the promo.

Of the six scenes from the promo, five are insulting and derogatory to Netaji`s slogan. Some scenes in the promo show that people were unaware about the slogan and Netaji`s role in freedom struggle, the PIL said.

On the sets of `Kaun Banega Crorepati`, Bachchan asks a child "who said this? -- You give me blood and I will give you freedom" and the child replies "just now you said it" and then stops in a confused state of mind. Bachchan tells him, "somewhere you have heard this".

The actor then tells viewers, "Ladies and gentlemen from the start I have been saying that any question cannot be small."

In yet another scene, two patients donating blood ask the doctor, "You took our blood. When will you give freedom?" and they laugh loud.

In another scene, a student kills a mosquito which sat on his forearm and says, "You drank my blood and I will give you freedom."

The petitioner said he was immensely hurt by the promo which is being telecast by Sony TV channel. He said that the promo gave the impression that people were unaware about the contribution of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to freedom struggle of the country.

Such a promo was an insult to the great freedom fighter who laid down his life to free India from the British rule, the PIL said.

The petitioner stated that such cantankerous and surreptitious approach of the respondents will bring about a feeling of insecurity among Indians. Moreover, such approach will harm the integrity and harmony existing among the people.

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