Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff have been summoned over allegations of misleading advertising related to a gutkha brand by the District Consumer Commission in Jaipur.
According to a report in New Indian Express, the legal notice mandates Shah Rukh to respond by March 19 to allegations made in an advertisement promoting saffron-flavored gutkha. Similar notices have also been issued to the Chairman of the gutkha manufacturing company, along with Tiger and Ajay.
The directive was reportedly given by Commission Chairman Gyarsilal Meena and member Hemlata Agarwal, following a complaint by consumer rights activist Yogendra Singh Badiyal.
The complaint alleges that JB Industries, the gutkha manufacturer, has made misleading claims in its advertisements by stating that "every grain contains saffron."
The petitioner also pointed out the disparity, noting that saffron is priced at around Rs 4 lakh per kilogram, while the gutkha is sold for merely Rs 5 per packet, rendering the claim unrealistic. Furthermore, the complaint argues that the product neither contains saffron nor carries its fragrance, yet celebrities continue to endorse it, potentially swaying consumers.
The complaint also added that such deceptive advertisements and promotional campaigns also pose health risks.
Earlier, several Bollywood actors have faced flak for endorsing pan masalas. Ajay, Shah Rukh and Akshay Kumar have been at the end of severe criticism due to their pan masala ads.
After receiving backlash for featuring in a pan masala ad, Akshay had even issued an unconditional apology for hurting his fans and promised to never do it again.
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