Hyderbad/ Washington: Connecticut-based New England Brewing Company has apologized for the use of Mahatma Gandhi's image on beer cans and bottles.
The company even claimed that its intention was to pay homage and celebrate the apostle of peace and that Gandhi's granddaughter and grandson have expressed their admiration for the label.
The beer brand is called "Gandhi-Bot", which the company says is an intensely hopped double India pale with a blend of three varieties of American Hops.
A petition was filed in a Hyderabad court over the issue alleging it had insulted the Father of the Nation.
An advocate, Sunkari Janardhan Goud, filed the petition before XI Metropolitan Magistrate, Cyberabad, Sunkari Janardhan Goud contending that Gandhi's image on the alcohol cans and description of the father of the nation by the brewery is highly condemnable and punishable under Indian laws.
The petition submitted that it amounts to offences under Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and 124-A of IPC (related to us inflammatory words, signs or visible representation).
The petition is slated to come up for hearing on Monday.