Mumbai: Maharashtra’s Food Safety Department has issued notices to Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff, seeking an explanation for appearing in an advertisement that authorities say indirectly supports pan masala.
The action comes after IAS officer Tukaram Munde took charge as the state’s Food Safety Commissioner, following which enforcement activity has reportedly intensified across companies of all sizes.
According to the notice, an advertisement released in 2024 promoted a cardamom product launched by a pan masala-linked company. After reviewing the commercial, officials said it appeared to encourage a brand associated with pan masala, which is banned in Maharashtra for manufacture, storage and distribution.
The department alleged the cardamom promotion was framed in a way that connects it with pan masala, potentially misleading consumers and indirectly encouraging a prohibited product. The notice also cited consumer protection provisions under which misleading advertisements can attract fines ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, along with a possible ban on the advertisement and up to three years’ imprisonment.
