Jaipur’s District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II has issued notices to Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff, along with the chairman of JB Industries, regarding an allegedly deceptive advertisement for Vimal Pan Masala. The forum has summoned them to appear on March 19 to address concerns about the ad’s claim that each grain of the product contains saffron.
The forum, chaired by Gyarsilal Meena with member Hemlata Agarwal, acted upon a complaint filed by Jaipur resident Yogendra Singh Badiyal. The complaint argues that the advertisement misrepresents the product by claiming it contains saffron, despite the significant cost difference between saffron and the pan masala being sold.
According to the petitioner, the advertisement’s tagline, which suggests that every grain of the product has the “strength of saffron,” is misleading. The complaint highlights that the cost of saffron is approximately Rs 4 lakh per kilogram, whereas the pan masala pouch is sold at just Rs 5, making it highly improbable for the product to contain real saffron, let alone its fragrance.
Furthermore, the complaint raises concerns about the health risks associated with the consumption of pan masala and gutkha, which contain harmful ingredients such as tobacco. It alleges that JB Industries, despite being aware of these risks, continues to promote the product using celebrity endorsements to drive sales. The petitioner has urged the authorities to ban such advertisements to prevent consumers from being misled.
The forum has now sought responses from the actors and the company’s chairman regarding the allegations. They are expected to present their stance before the forum by the designated deadline.