Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan who ran into trouble after his appearance in surrogate advertisement of Pan Bahar, a pan masala brand, has accused the brand of cheating for not disclosing the hazardous nature of the product. “In a written reply to the Delhi State Tobacco Control Cell, the actor stated that he got cheated by the company as the latter did not disclose the hazardous nature of the product and other terms and conditions of the contract of advertisement,” Additional Director (Health) SK Arora said.
A sow cause notice was issued by the Delhi government against Brosan and asked the brand why appropriate punitive action be not initiated against its directors and office-bearers. To this Arora added, “In his reply to the legal notice, Brosnan also said that his agreement with the company was over and he was ready to extend all kinds of support and cooperation to our department against such campaigns. He has given an undertaking in writing that he would never assist any company with regard to promotion of such products or other such harmful products in future.”
The official requested celebrities and mass media to not promote surrogate advertisements of tobacco in the name of pan masala, tea, elaichi or other goods as these are prohibited under section 5 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
