‘I am looking at them as violators of the law’

FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe calls Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff law violators

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff will face legal scrutiny over their appearance in a Vimal Elaichi ad, regardless of their celebrity status. 

For those unversed, the three actors were issued show-cause notices by the Maharashtra FDA over allegations that the advertisement indirectly promotes Vimal Pan Masala, a product prohibited in the state. According to Mundhe, the FDA has already initiated adjudication and prosecution proceedings against one of the actors who did not respond to the notice.

Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that the actors were being treated as advertisers in the matter and not differently because they are Bollywood stars.

“According to you they may be stars, but according to me they are only advertisers in this case. So I am looking at them as violators of the law, and the law will take its own course. That's why we have started taking action. We have taken this action as per the law.”

Mundhe further said that two of the three actors have responded to the notices and that their replies will be considered as part of the proceedings. One actor, however, has not responded, following which the FDA has moved ahead with adjudication and prosecution proceedings.

When asked specifically whether Shah Rukh Khan had responded, Mundhe said, “I exactly don’t remember... because that is with the assistant commissioner. Most likely he has not responded, but I’m not too sure about it.”