Micromax Mobile withdraws ‘bai’ ad, Shiney relieved

Mumbai: Micromax Mobile has withdrawn its controversial ‘Bai commercial’, which poked fun at Shiney Ahuja, after the actor initiated legal action against the company, said his publicist here Tuesday.

The advertisement attempted to take a humorous dig at Shiney, who was convicted two years ago of raping his domestic help and is currently out on bail. The actor slapped a legal notice on Micromax Mobile late October, contending that the advertisement - in which two ‘bais’ (servants) poke fun at him - "amounted to wilful character assassination and contempt of court". "Shiney has challenged his conviction and the Bombay High Court has admitted his appeal, which is currently pending hearing. For the mobile company to air such a commercial influencing public opinion when Shiney`s appeal is pending hearing, is equivalent to contempt of court," the actor`s publicist, Dale Bhagwagar, told reporters. Now, the Micromax Mobile has sent a reply to Shiney`s October notice, stating that the controversial commercial has been withdrawn, Bhagwagar said. Shiney was arrested June 2009 following charges of rape, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation, levelled by his maid servant, and spent nearly five months behind bars. On March 30 this year, he was awarded seven years of imprisonment by a Mumbai fast track court -- but he has challenged the sentence in the Bombay High Court. Shiney is known for his performances in movies like ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’, ‘Sins’, ‘Life In A Metro’, ‘Woh Lamhe’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ and ‘Gangster - A Love Story’, and is awaiting release of forthcoming movies like ‘Ek Accident’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Chaloo Movie’ and ‘Har Pal’. IANS