Pleading guilty, Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan sought exemption from personal appearance in the court in a case related to smoking in public at a stadium during an IPL match and expressed willingness to pay fine. Khan’s counsel represented him in the court and pleaded guilty on his behalf. He said the matter was a “petty affair” and moved an application seeking exemption from personal presence of his client in the case but the same was objected by the counsel of the petitioner. The Bollywood star had allegedly smoked while watching the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders April 8. “Smoking publicly is banned in Rajasthan since 2000 under the Rajasthan Prevention of Smocking Act. However, Shah Rukh Khan was smoking publicly in front of thousands of spectators. The actor was broadcast live while smoking on the TV channel which was showing the match,” said lawyer Nem Singh Rathore who had filed the complaint on behalf of Jaipur Cricket Academy.
