The Palamau district administration has recently slapped a fine of Rs 200 on Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal for smoking in public. Rampal, who is currently shooting in Daltonganj railway station, around 200km from the state capital. for his upcoming movie ‘Nastik’, was photographed smoking on the railway station complex.
Palamau Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Nand Kishore Gupta said the action was taken against Rampal based on a complaint lodged by one Rakesh Tiwari and his organisation, called Yuva Palamu, which presented photographic evidence.
The complainant said: The local media circles were aware with the news that Rampal was caught smoking outdoors while shooting for his upcoming film Nastik near Medininagar railway station. However, when the media persons asked the SDO about action, he told them that he was looking for proof. Rakesh said he came to know that some of his colleagues had gone to watch the shooting and had spotted Rampal smoking between breaks from shooting. They managed to source a photograph and handed it over to the authorities with a formal complaint.
The SDO said that the circle officer was sent to Ranchi to execute the challan. The CO then confirmed that the notice has been issued and is likely to be executed by this evening. In his complaint to the SDO, Tiwari said Rampal, being public figure, had sent a bad precedent for thousands who had turned up to watch the shoot. Gupta said that Rampal smoking in public was in violation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (Cotpa) of 2003.
Under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, smoking in public places is banned and anybody found guilty could be fined for the same.
