The Excise Department filed a case against businessman Bobby Chemmannur for copying and circulating a video promoting alcoholism. On July 9, Njarakal Excise registered a case for violating the Abkari Act. According to the report submitted to the Excise Court, the video footage is related to the opening ceremony of the Elangunnapuzha shop operating on the Njarakkal Elangunnapuzha beach shore.
The opening ceremony was held on July 1 at 5.45 pm. As part of further proceedings in the case, Mahsar has submitted incident report and CD containing video footage to the Excise Court. The Excise Court was also informed that the accused has not yet been arrested. Kozhikode police registered a case in a similar case four months ago, but no action was taken, reports said.
At the same time, alcohol can be sold but not encouraged to drink. Alcohol including toddy should not be encouraged in any way. What the law says. That’s why in movies and serials, when there are scenes of good drunkards, the legal warning that ‘drinking alcohol is injurious to health’ appears in a secluded corner like a fly in the pan. Who cares is another matter.
There was a TV ad for a fizzy soda when I read that alcohol should not be encouraged. And the hero who drinks that soda and shouts like a hero. It is a liquor brand that is squeezed and laughed at in foreign liquor stores. Maybe drop a bottle of soda somewhere in that name! An award should be given to those who do not know how many advertisements are shown in front of us in the name of soft drinks and water that are not of alcohol brands.
The video of Bobby Chemmannur, who is in the lead in increasing the business, in the role of Chetkukar, inaugurating the toddy shop was posted on social media with publicity interest. In this, even the legal warning not to consume alcohol is not included in the video. Bobby Chemmannur aka Boche has an observation that videos on social media are good for his business despite being subjected to constant trolls.
After the trial run Boche started his own movement called ‘Toddy Pub’. After the inauguration, Boche can be seen inside the shop catching fish, dancing, singing and serving food in a trending video on social media. The complaint under section 154(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code states that the video is an illegal advertisement intended to increase the sale and consumption of alcohol.
Although the government has a strict policy against the consumption of alcohol, the Nadakavu police, ready to take wild action on the allegation of insulting a journalist by Suresh Gopi, decided to take action on Srinivasan’s complaint. P. Srinivasan. He was the DYSP of Narcotics Division who conducted effective liquor and drug hunts. Relevant parts of the complaint:
‘I am a retired person from Kerala Police. Bobby Chemmannur wishes to inform you that advertisements of toddy shop under his ownership and possession are being advertised through social media in violation of Kerala Excise Act 1077, Section 55 (H). This ad is still available on the YouTube channel. According to the Kerala Excise Act, advertisement for the supply of liquor by any person is an offense punishable directly by the police under Section 41A(a). According to Section 2(c) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, cinema means anything exhibiting a moving image.
And since today’s family audiences include home theaters, showing such ad scenes without a legal warning is also punishable under Section 55 (i) of the Abkari Act. Moreover, this kind of movie screening through social media can also be considered as romantic theater (virtual theater). According to Article 47 of the Constitution, the government and its officials are required to prohibit such intoxicating advertisements.
Under Section 4(3) of the Indian Penal Code, an offense committed through a computer source is prosecutable anywhere in India. The offense under section 41 shall include the special law and the local law. The offense is still ongoing and can be considered a continuing offence.
