An advocate from Hyderabad, Sunkari Janardhan Goud has dragged US-based New England Brewing Company to a local court by filing a criminal petition against its use of Mahatma Gandhi's image on beer cans and bottles produced by it.
Mr. Goud said in the petition filed under Section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the XI Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Cyberabad at L.B. Nagar here on January 2 that the beer maker had insulted the Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The petition was admitted by the court the same day.
When contacted Mr. Goud told The Hindu that Gandhi's image on the beer cans and description of the Father of the nation by the brewery was highly condemnable and punishable under Indian laws – Sections 2 and 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, Section 124-A of IPC, Section 66-A of IT Act, 2005, Sections 3, 4, 5 and 188 of CrPC and Section 152 of the Indian Evidence Act.
PTI adds : Following the controversy, the Connecticut-based beer-maker has expressed apologies and claimed that its intention was only to pay homage and celebrate the apostle of peace and that Gandhi's granddaughter and grandson had expressed their admiration for the label.
“We do apologise if the good people of India find our Gandhi-Bot label offensive. Our intent is not to offend anyone but rather pay homage and celebrate a great man who we respect greatly. We take great care in creating a product we hope will not be abused in the manner that Mahatma Gandhi spoke of when referencing alcohol”, the company said in an e-mail response to PTI.
The beer brand called "Gandhi-Bot", which the company says is an intensely hopped double India pale with a blend of three varieties of American Hops. “The brew is aromatic and fully vegetarian. Gandhi-bolt is an ideal aid for self-purification and the seeking of truth and love”, the company says on its web site.
