Rajasthan High Court stays cheating case against Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in defective Hyundai car row, halting investigation and providing relief to the Bollywood stars in the ongoing legal matter.
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JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court at Jaipur has stayed the investigation against Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in a cheating case linked to the sale of a Hyundai car. The case also involves Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, and Tarun Garg, Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor India.
Court’s Observations and Directions
Justice Sudesh Bansal observed that the complaint does not disclose cognisable offences against the petitioners and stayed further investigation in the FIR (No. 558/2025) until further orders.
The Court also directed:
- Notices to the complainant and police authorities.
- Summoning of records from the Magistrate’s court.
- Exploration of mediation: Suggesting that Hyundai officials and the dealership may resolve the grievance amicably through mediation.
The matter is now listed for further hearing on September 25, 2025.
Petitioners’ Arguments
Represented by senior advocates including Kapil Sibal, the petitioners argued that their implication in the case is arbitrary and malicious. They highlighted:
- No nexus with sale or after-sale issues: Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone are only brand ambassadors of Hyundai and have no role in manufacturing, sales, or consumer grievance redressal.
- No vicarious liability under IPC: Indian Penal Code (now BNSS, 2023) does not recognise vicarious liability.
- Alternative legal remedy available: The complainant could have pursued relief under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 instead of filing a criminal case.
- Company not impleaded: Surprisingly, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. was not made a party to the complaint.
The petitioners stressed that dragging public figures and reputed professionals into criminal litigation is nothing but a misuse of the legal process.
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Background of the Case
The matter originated from a complaint filed by a Bharatpur resident who purchased a Hyundai Alcazar (1.5 AT Signature Black) on June 30, 2022, from Malwa Auto Sales Pvt. Ltd., an authorised Hyundai dealership. After clocking nearly 67,000 km in three years, the complainant alleged recurring technical and manufacturing defects in the vehicle, claiming that the car broke down multiple times, causing immense hardship.
When his requests for a replacement or refund went unanswered by the company, the buyer lodged a criminal complaint. Acting on this, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bharatpur, ordered registration of an FIR under Sections 406, 420, and 120-B IPC (now BNSS, 2023) for cheating and criminal conspiracy.
Appearance:
For the petitioners: Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, VR Bajwa and Madhav Mitra with Advocates Aparajita Jaunwal, Aditya Sharma, Jaya Mitra, Sanjay Kumar, Abhishek Kr Singh, Saurabh Kumar, Vedanshi Jalan and Savita Nathawat
For the State of Rajasthan: Public Prosecutor Vivek Choudhary
Case Title:
Mr. Unsoo Kim S/o Byungil Kim Versus The State Of Rajasthan and anr. and connected case
S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous (Petition) No. 5668/2025
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