An association in Kolkata on Wednesday wrote to filmstar Shahrukh Khan, requesting him to give up ambassadorship of the hosiery brand Lux Cozi, whose tie-up with the actor’s cricket team is on hold.
The brand is owned by Ashok Todi, who is alleged to have abetted the suicide of his
son-in-law, Rizwanur Rehman (30), a computer graphics teacher.
In an letter signed by Rehman’s mother, Kishwar Jahan, and 26 other citizens of Kolkata, the association, ‘Konscience’ Keepers of Kolkata, asked Khan: “How could you, of all people, do this (be brand ambassador)?”
“Your association with the brand is viewed as a deviation,” the letter said.
“Khan’s endorsement is being widely seen as providing respectability to the brand, whose owners have been charged with abetting the suicide of Rehman,” said Mudar Patherya, a social activist who had led the protests against the tie-up of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Khan’s Indian Premier League team, and Lux Cozi.
On February 22, the KKR authorities announced their decision to put the tie-up on hold. The tie-up envisaged merchandising, included printing the Lux Cozi logo on the KKR jersey.