Court summons pest control firm for insulting national flag

A court here on Friday summoned a pest control company Terminix for allegedly insulting the tricolour by printing a pamphlets with a image of cockroach with three colours of national flag and and national emblem Ashok Chakra.

Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain issued summons to Terminix and asked it to appear on June 30 while hearing a a private complaint filed by Rajiv Jolly Khosla against the firm's proprietor.

"It is alleged that the accused had got printed name of their brand along with photo of a cockroach on pamphlets besides printing colours of national flag of India along with Ashok Chakra on the same," the court observed, saying it was satisfied that a prima facie case is made out against accused for offence under section 2 (insult to national flag) of Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act.

The complainant told the court that on August 13, 2008 he found certain pamphlets showing national flag in the middle being distributed by accused through newspapers and through their employees for promotion of their business.

Alleging that acts of accused have insulted national flag and hurt the sentiments of the public at large, the complainant requested court to initiate proceedings against the company.