Salman gets fine notice for smoking in public

Patiala (Punjab), May 31 (IANS) Bollywood star Salman Khan, who is in this Punjab town for shooting his film 'Bodyguard', landed in trouble Tuesday with the local administration penalising him for smoking in public place at a hotel.

Taking cognizance of his photograph published in a daily, the Patiala district administration issued a notice (challan) to Salman Khan late Tuesday, which was coincidentally observed as World No Tobacco Day.

'We have issued challan on the basis of a photograph, showing Salman smoking at a public place in a hotel, published in a newspaper Saturday. We have also issued a warning to the hotel authorities,' said an official here.

A crew member of the film's production unit received the challan on Salman's behalf. The star or his representative will now have to appear before the district magistrate, who may decide the penalty amount. It was not known when the actor would appear before the official.

Salman came here May 24.

A Patiala-based NGO has also decided to serve a legal notice on Salman for smoking at a public place.

On No Tobbacco Day, the Patiala administration challaned 13 offenders at a bus stand for smoking in public and collected Rs.2,375 in fines.

In January 2009, Salman was issued two notices for lighting up at a public place in Kurali town in Punjab's Mohali district.