JAIPUR: Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff have been summoned by the District Consumer Commission in Jaipur over allegations of misleading advertising related to a gutkha brand.
The legal notice, issued during Khan's visit to Jaipur for the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the IIFA Awards, requires him to respond by March 19 regarding claims made in an advertisement promoting saffron-infused gutkha.
Similar notices have also been sent to Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff, and the chairman of the gutkha manufacturing company. The order was issued by Commission Chairman Gyarsilal Meena and member Hemlata Agarwal, following a complaint filed by consumer rights activist Yogendra Singh Badiyal.
Allegations of false advertising
The complaint accuses JB Industries, the gutkha manufacturer, of making misleading claims in its advertisements by stating that "every grain contains saffron."
The petitioner highlighted that saffron costs approximately Rs 4 lakh per kilogram, while the gutkha is sold for just Rs 5 per packet, making the claim unrealistic. Additionally, the complaint asserts that the product neither contains saffron nor has its fragrance, yet celebrities continue to endorse it, potentially influencing consumers.
The complaint further argues that such deceptive advertisements not only encourage gutkha consumption but also pose health risks. The petitioner has urged authorities to ban such misleading promotional campaigns, citing their harmful impact on public health.
Previous legal challenges for Bollywood celebrities
This is not the first time these actors have faced legal scrutiny for endorsing pan masala products. In February, Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff, and the manufacturers of Vimal Pan Masala were summoned by the Kota Consumer Court in a similar case.
Additionally, a social worker from Kota filed a petition with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission seeking a ban on pan masala advertisements. The case led to another legal notice being issued, with the next hearing scheduled for April 21.
Furthermore, BJP leader and advocate Indra Mohan Singh Honey had previously filed a petition under Section 89 of the Consumer Protection Act on November 13, 2024, adding to the mounting legal challenges faced by the actors and the gutkha manufacturers.
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