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4 clusters · 40 sources · 23 days · First seen 27 days ago · Last updated 4 days ago

Maharashtra FDA investigation into surrogate advertising

Overview

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued show-cause notices to Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff regarding advertisements for Vimal Elaichi. The regulator alleges the campaign is a form of surrogate advertising used to indirectly promote Vimal Pan Masala, a product whose manufacture, sale, and distribution are prohibited in Maharashtra.

In a nine-page notice, Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe stated that the branding and presentation of the cardamom product appear to create a “misleading association” with the banned pan masala brand. The actors were directed to cease participation in the campaign and remove promotional content from all digital platforms.

While the FDA has received responses from Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff, it is still awaiting a response from Shah Rukh Khan. The agency is reviewing the submitted replies to determine if the advertisements comply with the Advertising and Claims Regulations of 2018.

In response to the investigation, PB Agro LLP, the manufacturer of Vimal Elaichi, has approached the Delhi High Court to challenge the show-cause notices. Legal counsel for PB Agro argued that the Maharashtra FDA lacks jurisdiction to halt the advertisements and noted that the notices were issued to the actors rather than the company. The company further contended that the surrogate advertising allegations are baseless, stating that Vimal pan masala has not been sold in Maharashtra since 2001. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma has reserved her verdict on the preliminary issue of whether the Delhi High Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Entities

Shah Rukh Khan · Ajay Devgn · Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration · Tiger Shroff · Vimal Elaichi

Timeline

4 days ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
PB Agro challenges Maharashtra FDA notices to celebrity ambassadors
The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict on a plea by PB Agro to quash Maharashtra FDA notices sent to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff regarding alleged surrogate advertising.
8 days ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
Maharashtra FDA receives responses from actors regarding Vimal Elaichi ads
The Maharashtra FDA is investigating Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff for alleged surrogate advertising of Vimal Elaichi, while awaiting a response from Shah Rukh Khan.
21 days ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Maharashtra FDA issues notices to Bollywood actors over pan masala advertisements
The Maharashtra FDA has issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff over advertisements suspected of indirectly promoting prohibited pan masala.
27 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 34 sources
Maharashtra FDA issues notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff
The Maharashtra FDA has issued show-cause notices to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff for allegedly using a Vimal Elaichi advertisement to indirectly promote prohibited pan masala.

Sources

barandbench.com · bhaskarhindi.com · bollywoodbubble.com · bollywoodhungama.com · cinetalkers.com · deccanchronicle.com · dnaindia.com · dtnext.in · en.etemaaddaily.com · enavabharat.com · english.mathrubhumi.com · hindi.latestly.com · hindi.news18.com · hindikhabar.com · ibtimes.co.in · in.mashable.com · indiaforums.com · indtoday.com · kalingatv.com · khaleejtimes.com · kiaora.com.au · latestly.com · m9.news · migraciokutato.hu · moving.co.nz · news.abplive.com · news18.com · newsable.asianetnews.com · nexttvc.com · odishabytes.com · orissapost.com · prabhatkhabar.com · samacharnama.com · satyagrah.scroll.in · sheaffertoldmeto.com · siasat.com · socialnews.xyz · thecsrjournal.in · thelivenagpur.com · thenews21.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history