Star Heroes Get Notices Over Pan Masala Ad

The Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Jaipur has issued notices to Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff regarding a pan masala advertisement they endorsed. The action comes after allegations that the ad misled consumers, promoting a gutka product that is harmful to health. Jaipur-based lawyer Yogendra Singh Badiyal filed a complaint in court, claiming that the advertisement was deceptive and encouraged the consumption of an unhealthy product.

The controversy revolves around the tagline “Dene Dene Mein Kesar Ka Dum” used in the ad, suggesting the inclusion of saffron (kesar) in the pan masala. However, it was alleged that there is no saffron in the product, which raises questions about how a luxury ingredient like saffron, which is priced at lakhs per kilogram, could be included in a pan masala priced at just ₹5. The court was informed that this deceptive promotion was misleading the public and contributing to increasing health issues.

In addition to the actors, Vimal Kumar Agarwal, the head of the commercial company JB Industries, has also been issued a notice. The court has directed all the involved parties to appear before it on March 19. Failure to do so would lead to the continuation of the proceedings in their absence. The commission has instructed the actors and the company to respond within 30 days of receiving the notice.

So far, no response has been received from the Bollywood stars regarding this case. Lawyer Badiyal has demanded that the misleading ad be banned and that a fine be imposed on the celebrities for their role in promoting the deceptive advertisement. It remains to be seen how the actors will respond to these allegations.