Mumbai, August 16: Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff are in hot water. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a show-cause notice to all three regarding an advertisement for Vimal Elaichi.
The FDA alleges that while the advertisement appears to promote cardamom, it indirectly endorses the Vimal Pan Masala brand. Currently, there is a ban on pan masala in Maharashtra, prompting the FDA to take this advertisement seriously.
Reports indicate that Ajay Devgn received the notice at his residence in Juhu, while Shah Rukh Khan was served at his iconic home, Mannat, in Bandra. Tiger Shroff received his notice through his production company, Tiger Shroff Productions LLP. The notice requests all three actors to explain their roles in the advertisement.
The FDA emphasizes that the Vimal brand is primarily associated with pan masala, which is banned in Maharashtra for manufacturing, storage, transport, distribution, and sale. This ban was enforced on July 13, 2026, by the state’s food safety commissioner and is set to last for one year.
In this action, the FDA referenced Section 24 of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, which prohibits misleading or deceptive advertisements related to food products. Additionally, Section 53 of the same law was mentioned, which allows for fines of up to 1 million rupees for those involved in publishing or promoting misleading food advertisements.
The notices sent to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff are part of a larger crackdown by the Maharashtra FDA. The department has intensified its campaign against violations of food safety regulations, particularly focusing on the production and sale of gutkha and other banned nicotine-containing pan masala products.
Moreover, the FDA is also addressing issues related to food adulteration, the sale of unhealthy food near schools, and the production and distribution of prohibited food products. In recent months, the department has conducted numerous inspections and seizures across various locations.
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