Brand ambassador of the 'Tobacco-Free Mumbai Police' campaign launched to discourage tobacco consumption among policemen was booked for smoking a hookah in 2012
Mumbai Police embarked upon an admirable campaign yesterday to free their policemen from the clutches of the addiction of tobacco. The ‘Tobacco-Free Mumbai Police’ campaign kicked off yesterday, with actor Vivek Oberoi as its brand ambassadors. Ironically, Oberoi himself was booked in 2012 for smoking in a public place.
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The campaign is a much-needed one since 14 policemen lost their lives due to cancer last year and chewing tobacco is a habit prevalent among many cops and is seen as the leading cause of the deadly ailment. The drive seeks to motivate policemen to let go of the habit by ranking police stations as ‘Tobacco-free police stations’ and also including a component of it in their grading, along with the work profile.
Vivek Oberoi and Raveena Tandon inaugurated the ‘Tobacco-free Mumbai Police’ campaign yesterday. Oberoi, who was booked for smoking in a public place in March 2012, is the face of the drive. Pics/Datta Kumbhar
Kicking the tobacco would reflect positively in their grades. When police were asked how they would ascertain if the cop had actually overcome his addiction, officials said it would show in the quality of work. An initiative supported by the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA), Oberoi, along with actress Raveena Tandon, inaugurated the campaign yesterday.
However, Oberoi, who is also the ambassador of the anti-smoking initiative by the World Health Organisation (WHO), was caught smoking a shisha in March 2012, at Mabrook, a restaurant in Sahara Star, the five-star hotel at Vile Parle. Shisha is a blend of molasses, fruits, and tobacco.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Vasant Dhoble, who had earned the title of anti-nightlife crusader due to his raids on bars and restaurants during his stint at the Social Service (SS) branch, had booked the 'Saathiya' actor under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.
Recalling his raid, Dhoble, who is now posted with the Missing Persons Bureau, told mid-day, “The actor then wanted to escape and told me that if he was caught, it could spoil his image. But I told him that if he tried to escape, he would have to be stopped forcefully. After which, Oberoi sat with the other patrons and was booked for smoking in a public place. I later handed him over to the Airport police station.” mid-day tried contacting Atul Kulkarni, joint commissioner of police, Mumbai Police, for his comments on why Oberoi was chosen as the face of the campaign despite his being booked once for smoking in a public place. At the time of going to press, he was yet unavailable for comment.
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