A liquor company whose TV commercial features India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni ridiculing teammate Harbhajan Singh has received a legal notice from the mother of Harbhajan. In the commercial for a soft drink, a Harbhajan lookalike is slapped for an act of stupidity, then Dhoni mocks a catchphrase Harbhajan uses in an advertisement for a rival product.

Harbhajan's mother, Avtar Kaur, hasn't taken the spoof lightly, and sent a legal notice to the Vijay Mallya-owned liquor company which is running the ad. Advertisement: Story continues below The notice asks for the commercial to be withdrawn, and an apology to be put in newspapers and on TV, as it brings "disunity and friction" in the India team and "can be termed anti-national". Mallya, though, has refused to withdraw the advertisement.

"It was not meant to attack Harbhajan Singh personally. It was just a spoof between two brands. We have received a long-winded legal notice and our lawyers are studying it," Mallya was quoted as saying in the Times of India. "There are several TV programs that spoof our politicians. What will happen if all of them start sending legal notices?" added Mallya, who owns Indian Premier League team Bangalore Royal Challengers. Both players are touring with India in England. Harbhajan, an offspinner, has been playing for India since 1998, and Dhoni, a wicketkeeper, since 2004.