A court issued notices to Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff over misleading advertisements related to a pan masala brand. The case questions how saffron, allegedly worth Rs.4 lakh per kg, is being sold in a Rs.5 pan masala pouch. The complaint argues that such claims deceive consumers and violate advertising norms. The court sought a response from the actors regarding their endorsements of the product.
Jaipur: The district consumer disputes redressal forum in Jaipur-II sent notices to actors Shahrukh Khan, Ajay Devgan, and Tiger Shroff, as well as the chairman of JB Industries, regarding an allegedly misleading advertisement for Vimal Pan Masala.
They are required to appear on March 19 to address claims made in the advertisement stating that each grain of the pan masala contains saffron.
The forum, presided over by Gyarsilal Meena and with member Hemlata Agarwal, issued the notice following a complaint from Jaipur resident Yogendra Singh Badiyal.
The complainant argued that JB Industries, which produces Vimal Pan Masala, promotes the product on a national scale.
He stated,
“The three actors, including Shahrukh Khan, Ajay Devgan, and Tiger Shroff, advertise it to increase its sales. It is claimed in the advertisement that it contains saffron. However, the truth is that the price of saffron is around 4 lakh rupees per kg, while their Pan Masala with Tobacco pouch costs just Rs 5. In such a situation, forget about adding saffron; even its fragrance cannot be added to it.”
The complaint contends that the advertisement deceives consumers by claiming the product contains saffron.
The petitioner stated,
“The manufacturing company is conducting a business worth crores of rupees, while ordinary people are risking their health by consuming the harmful and fatal combination of Pan Masala with tobacco, known as gutkha. This mix is detrimental to health, and the manufacturing company is fully aware of this. In this context, they are deliberately promoting it by asserting that it contains saffron to mislead the public. Therefore, this advertisement should be banned.”
The forum has instructed the actors and the chairman of JB Industries to respond to the notice by the specified date.
Vimal Pan Masala, a popular brand in India, is known for its tobacco and pan masala products. It has gained widespread attention due to celebrity endorsements by Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar.
The brand has faced criticism and legal scrutiny over misleading advertisements, particularly regarding its claims of containing premium ingredients like saffron.
Recently, a court issued notices questioning how saffron worth Rs. 4 lakh per kg could be included in a Rs.5 pan masala pouch, raising concerns about deceptive marketing practices.
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