Rs 200 fine on actor Ram for smoking in public

HYDERABAD: Almost a month after police declared that they will intensify drive against smoking in public, Telugu actor Ram Pothineni was fined of Rs 200 on Monday after he was caught smoking near Charminar. As part of his upcoming movie ‘Ismart Shankar’, Ram was shooting at Charminar and during a break, he was smoking. An onlooker captured the actor smoking and the photo was shared widely.
When police came to know about it, they approached the actor and issued him a challan under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act-2003 (Cotpa). The production manager paid the fine on behalf of Ram.
In the backdrop of 50th World Lung Conference, which will be held in Hyderabad from October 30 to November 2, police have started cracking the whip and issuing challans for smoking in public to achieve a ‘smoke-free Hyderabad’.