Wednesday, March 18, 2010 - IR Summary/TOI- Kings XI, Team of Punjab, seems not having a very good promotion run. In IPL season I, there was showdown between the Mohali police and Ness Wadia over smoking in the stands, Season II was all about the Slapgate between Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth, and now, they are in the news for an ad featuring their team in a Chandigarh newspaper.

The advertisement appeared on March 13, was, “The stadium was silent. Freedom fighters Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru had just walked into the stands. Are you the wildest Kings XI fan in the stadium? Then you are fan of the match...” This ad show the way to some NGOs moving court, and also some protest demonstrations in and around the stadium. Now, Bhagat Singh’s grandson, Abhey Singh Sandhu, has submitted a written grievance to the Mohali police, and has also filed a suit in court in Chandigarh, which is set for a hearing today.

We spoke to the chairperson of the team, Preity Zinta. “It was not our intention to hurt anybody’s sentiments. I have been informed that the recent ad has hurt some people’s sentiments, which was not what we wanted. I have the supreme respect for leaders of past who made sacrifices for the country. We truly apologise to the people.

Team senior vice president (operations) Col (retd) Arvinder Singh said, “We have already apologised and we are ready to apologize again. I am meeting the senior police officers regarding this issue. It will be premature to say anything else as some people have taken lawful recourse. The ad has been withdrawn and we are confident that the matter will be resolved soon.” Talking about Sandhu’s and Global Human Rights Commission lawyer Arvind Thakur’s complaint, Mohali SSP GPS Bhullar said, “I have marked an inquiry into the matter.” SP (detective) Varinder Pal Singh, who’s conducting the probe, said, “I have summoned team management and have asked them to join the probe. We have also recorded few statements.”

Thakur said, “This ad has hurted the feeling of millions of Indians. How can someone use the names of freedom fighters for their commercial gain? We have made Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta parties in this issue.” Wadia and co-owner Mohit Burman refused to comment.