Akal Takht pardons Mandira Bedi in tatoo case

AMRITSAR: Akal Takht, the highest body of Sikh religious affairs, has accepted the apology of actress, model and cricket commentator Mandira Bedi regarding the use of a Sikh religious symbol on her body as a tattoo.

Mandira sent a signed apology to Akal Takht head Joginder Singh Vedanti expressing regret over hurting Sikh sentiments by displaying an 'Ek Omkar' tattoo in Gurmukhi on her bare back during a fashion show in Mumbai recently. Mandira is herself a Sikh.

'Ek Omkar' (God is One) are the first words of the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib.

Accepting her apology, a spokesman of the Akal Takht head said that Mandira did not personally need to appear before the Takht.

She had earlier sent an apology which was not accepted as it was unsigned. She later sent a signed one.

There was an outcry in some sections of Sikh society in Punjab after Mandira's pictures were flashed with the tattoo on her back.

Mandira Bedi, who became famous as a TV star with her role in the serial 'Shanti' a decade ago, has recently been creating waves by becoming a studio cricket commentator in the live show 'Extraa Innings' - rubbing shoulders with top cricketers of yesteryears.

This is the second cricket World Cup for which she has been engaged by Sony's Set Max channel.