A sportswear campaign featuring Sania Mirza resting her foot on a guitar painted in the tricolour and another one of Mandira Bedi wearing a sari with the national flag on its border, were cited by the petitioner.
Criminal Original Petition was today filed in the Madras High court bench here,seeking action against Sachin Tendulkar, popular commentator Mandira Bedi, tennis star Sania Mirza and a woman ICC patents and trademark law officer "for insulting the national flag."
Petitioner B Stalin sought a direction to register the cases against the four under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper use) Act, 1950.
Stalin recalled a report which had stated that an ICC lady lawyer had created a controversy on March 31 2011 outside the stadium that played host to the India-Pakistan World Cup semis by stomping on the tricolour and balloons with the flag printed on them.
Officials had not taken any action though her act was a violation of INHA and E and N (prevention of Improper use) acts, Stalin said.
He enclosed news clippings as 'proof' of Tendulkar celebrating his birthday on March 2010 by cutting a cake on which the tricolour had been portrayed.
A sportswear campaign featuring Sania Mirza resting her foot on a guitar painted in the tricolour and another one of Mandira Bedi wearing a sari with the national flag on its border, touching her feet were also cited by him.
The Petitioner submitted that he had lodged a complaint with Police, but that the DCP had told him that the stars were 'national treasures' worshipped by crores of fans. Moreover he was told that the incidents had occurred outside the territorial jurisidiction.
The Petitioner requested the court to direct the DGP (Law and Order) and CBI Director to appoint an official to enquire into complaint given by him and register it.
The case will be taken for admission on May 25, officials said.
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