Kolkata: Photographer lands in trouble over nude model with live snake photo shoot

Kolkata, May 8: Kolkata-based Anirudhha Sen, an associate at Cognizant has a passion for photography. He even has his official photography page titled 'Anirudhha Sen photography' on the social networking website Facebook.

His latest photography has landed him into a controversy, where he has done a photo shoot of a nude model named Piya carrying a live snake. The photograph in question bears an uncanny resemblance with the infamous 1995 ad showing models Milind Soman and Madhu Sapre in nude carrying a snake.

The photo shoot was allegedly done in January this year.

Twenty years ago, such an advertisement on Indian television had led to a huge controversy and even two decades later, the same kind of photo shoot has drawn criticism, even though it is aesthetically shot.

According to reports, Sen has been booked by the forest department for the violation of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Sen told TOI, "I had been inspired by the Madhu-Milind ad and created my own. I was very young then and didn't look beyond photography to read about the violations they had been charged with. I have been questioned thrice and repeatedly told forest officials that what I have done in a mistake and not a crime. It will be sad if they continue to treat me like a petty criminal."

"It is my bad luck that I posted the photographs on Facebook and they were spotted by the forest department. I keep my personal life, photography and professional life separate but they are threatening to merge and throw my life out of gear," he further added.

Chief wildlife warden Pradeep Vyas was quoted saying saying as to the TOI, "The photographer used live snakes on a nude model and uploaded the shots on Facebook. According to the Wildlife Protection Act, manhandling wild animals and using them for commercial purpose is prohibited. We have initiated proceedings against him."

If convicted, Sen can face a maximum jail term of three years or a fine of Rs 25,000, or both.

OneIndia News