New Delhi, Aug 7 (Bhaskar News) : What can be seen as major embarrassment for Saif Ali Khan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is looking into a plea filed by an RTI activist for taking back Padma Shri Award conferred on the Bollywood actor in wake of Mumbai court framing charges against him in connection to his alleged involvement in a scuffle in a Colaba restaurant.
"I am directed to refer to your Public Grievance No. MINHA/E/2014/00549 dated 14.03.2014 raising issue to take back Padma Award from Saif Ali Khan, as some charges framed against him by a Mumbai Court for scuffle in a Mumbai restaurant. The matter is under examination," MHA Section Officer Sunil Kumar told Subhash Chandra Agrawal in response to question filed by the city-based activist under Right to Information (RTI)
Agrawal had urged the MHA on March 14 to strip the 43-year-old actor of the award given to him 2010 by the then President Pratibha Patil for his contribution in the field of art.
"A Mumbai court has framed charges against Khan for his involvement in a Mumbai-restaurant. The actor is already facing several other criminal cases against him. Therefore, he does not deserve the prestigious award," Agrawal told Daily Bhaskar.
"Khan's name was recommended for the award by Awards Committee, which comprises senior government officials and eminent personalities from different fields. Significantly, all recommended names are cleared by intelligence agencies of the country before being announced on the eve of Republic Day. I fail to understand, how the intelligence agencies cleared his name ignoring the fact that he is involved in a crime and a court has already framed charges him," he further said.
The case dates back to February 2012, when Africa-based businessman Iqbal Sharma alleged that he along with his father-in-law was punched on his nose by the actor and his two friends - Bilal Amrohi and Shakeel Ladakh - at Wasabi restaurant in Hotel Taj Mahal at Colaba in South Mumbai. A complaint in this regard was filed in Colaba police station.
The court framed charges against Khan and his friends recently under section 325 (assault) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, two MHA officials close to the development told Daily Bhaskar that the ministry is "considering to take back" the award conferred on the actor.
"The ministry has found merit in the complaint and is seriously considering to direct the actor to return the prestigious award," they said.
If this happens, it would be the first of its kind of cases in which the government withdraws the previously bestowed honour on a public figure.