Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn has approached the Bombay High Court challenging a Maharashtra FDA show-cause notice over alleged surrogate advertising of banned Vimal Pan Masala through Vimal Elaichi endorsements. Devgn has questioned the legal provisions and action against actors instead of manufacturers. The petition is expected to be heard on November 4.
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn has approached the Bombay High Court challenging a Maharashtra FDA show-cause notice over his endorsement of ‘Vimal Elaichi’, with the regulator alleging that the advertisements indirectly promote banned ‘Vimal Pan Masala’ in the state.
Bombay High Court Likely To Hear Petition On November 4
The petition is expected to come up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice MC Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna on November 4.
The FDA had issued notices alleging that advertisements promoting ‘Vimal Elaichi’ were a form of surrogate advertising for ‘Vimal Pan Masala’, a chewable product prohibited in Maharashtra. Similar notices were also issued to fellow brand ambassadors Shah Rukh Khan and Tiger Shroff.
Actor Questions Constitutional Validity Of FDA Provisions
In his plea, Devgn has questioned the constitutional validity of the provisions under which the notices were issued. He has also contended that the FDA wrongly targeted him in his capacity as an actor instead of proceeding against the manufacturer of the product.