Nawazuddin Siddiqui Promotes Poker Wearing Police Uniform In New Advertisement, Lands In Trouble

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has stirred controversy with a recent advertisement. A Hindu organisation has accused him of tarnishing the image of the Maharashtra police and is calling for legal action against him. The Hindu Janjagruti Samiti has reportedly sent a letter to the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the Director General of Police in Maharashtra, urging them to take action against both Nawazuddin and Ankur Singh, the owner of Big Cash Poker, as reported by Free Press Journal.

The organisation alleges that an advertisement featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui as a police officer damages the reputation of the Maharashtra Police. In the ad, he encourages viewers to play poker. Surajya Abhiyan, a social welfare campaign from the organisation, is now calling for action against Nawazuddin for “defaming the police.” They state that the commercial is “damaging and disrespectful to law enforcement”.

Abhishek Murukate, the Maharashtra state coordinator of Surajya Abhiyan, wrote to the state’s Director General of Police and the Mumbai Police Commissioner. He urged them to take action against Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Ankur Singh. In the letter, he requested legal action under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, and the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, for allegedly defaming the police.

“This is alarming because the same police department files cases against such people and arrests gamblers. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s ‘Surajya Abhiyan’ strongly condemns this, as it tarnishes the image of Maharashtra Police. Ignoring this could lead to more illegal and unethical advertisements using police uniforms,” read the letter, as quoted by HT.

“The Maharashtra police are trained through hard work, but this advertisement attempts to suggest that online gambling gives them skills. It is disappointing that no police officer has been compelled to take action against this application and it is unfortunate that complaints have to be made by others. We also wish that Maharashtra’s home minister also takes cognizance of the matter,” the letter added.