Hindu organization demands legal action against Nawazuddin Siddiqui for allegedly tarnishing Maharashtra police image
Bollywood star Nawazuddin Siddiqui is facing backlash following a recent advertisement that has sparked controversy. A Hindu organization has accused him of damaging the image of the Maharashtra police and is calling for legal action to be taken against the actor.
According to a report by the Free Press Journal, the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti has urged the Mumbai Police commissioner and Maharashtra’s police chief to pursue legal action against Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The organization claims that his depiction of a police officer in an online gaming ad is detrimental to the reputation of the Maharashtra Police.
Their Surajya Abhiyan campaign is demanding immediate action, alleging that Siddiqui is tarnishing the police’s image by endorsing poker while wearing a Maharashtra police uniform. The organization contends that the ad is harmful and disrespectful to law enforcement.
Abhishek Murukate, the Maharashtra state coordinator of Surajya Abhiyan, has written a letter to the state’s DGP and Mumbai Police commissioner, urging them to take action against Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Ankur Singh, the owner of the online gaming app. The letter calls for strict legal measures to be taken under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, and the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, for allegedly defaming the police through the controversial advertisement.
The letter raises significant concerns about the situation, pointing out the irony that the same police department that arrests gamblers is now embroiled in this controversy. The Hindu Janjagruti Samiti’s Surajya Abhiyan has criticized the advertisement for undermining the reputation of the Maharashtra Police, cautioning that ignoring this issue could lead to a proliferation of illegal and unethical ads misusing police uniforms.
The letter states, “It tarnishes the image of Maharashtra Police. Ignoring this could lead to more illegal and unethical advertisements using police uniforms.” It also calls on Maharashtra’s home minister, Devendra Fadnavis, to take notice of the matter.
Murukate emphasizes the dedication and training of the Maharashtra police force, criticizing the advertisement for suggesting that online gambling enhances their skills. He expresses disappointment that no police officer has taken action against the gaming application, noting the unfortunate reliance on external complaints. He also expresses hope that Maharashtra’s home minister will address the situation.
Meanwhile, in his professional career, Nawazuddin Siddiqui began his Bollywood journey in 1999 with the film Sarfarosh, alongside Aamir Khan. Their collaboration continued in Talaash: The Answer Lies Within and extended to Aamir’s co-production, Peepli Live, in 2010.
He later worked with Shah Rukh Khan in the 2017 crime drama Raees and shared the screen with Salman Khan in hits like Kick and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Siddiqui’s diverse filmography includes acclaimed titles such as Gangs of Wasseypur, Badlapur, Thackeray, Photograph, Mom, Raman Raghav 2.0, and Serious Men, showcasing his versatility and talent in the industry.
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