Case against Dhanush, Aishwarya dismissed

The Madras high court last week quashed the criminal proceedings against popular film star Dhanush and Aishwarya Rajinikanth that was pending before a magistrate court, for allegedly showing banners of the Tamil film 'Velaiyilla Pattadhari', carrying a picture of Dhanush prominently smoking a cigarette. Originally, on a private complaint filed by one S Cyril Alexander, the proceedings were initiated against Dhanush and Aishwarya. In his order, the judge said in the instant case, the only allegation that has been made in the complaint is that the advertisement banners of the movie were found to carry the picture of the lead actor prominently smoking a cigarette. This act, per se, cannot be brought within the purview of Section 5 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco products since the display was not done by persons engaged in the production, supply or distribution of cigarettes or any other tobacco products, the judge said.