Reliance Jio used PM Narendra Modi's photo without permission for its ad?

New Delhi: From the displayed picture above, one will notice that the photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was used by Mukesh Ambani's group for ad during the launch of Reliance Jio on September 1.

Moreover, the next day, i.e. September 2 saw the front pages leading newspapers of the country with the photo of the Prime Minister along with the ad for Reliance Jio.

During the launch, the words along with PM Modi's photo read “Dedicated to India and 120 crore Indians.. A tribute to realise the Digital India Vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

However, the use of Modi's photo was met with criticism. And now it appears that it was used with the Prime Minister Office's (PMO) permit.

According to report, the parliament was informed on Thursday that the PMO did not grant permission to use the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the print and electronic advertisements of the Reliance Jio.

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha to a question by Samajwadi Party`s Neeraj Shekhar, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also admitted that it was aware that Reliance Jio used the Prime Minister`s photographs in the advertisement, IANS reported.

"Yes sir, the government was aware," said Rathore, adding that no permission was granted by PMO, the report stated.

He added that the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP), a media unit of ministry, is the nodal agency for release of advertisement on the policies and programme of the government in various media vehicles, but "releases government advertisements only and does not release advertisements of any private body".

As Shekhar sought to know about the actions taken against Jio, if permission was not taken in advance, Rathore replies that the necessary act, the Emblems and Names (prevention of improper use) Act 1950, is administered by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

With IANS Input