Bollywood megastars Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgan are embroiled in a legal battle as a case has been filed against them in India. The case revolves around allegations that the actors promoted gutka and tobacco companies, posing a serious threat to public health. Motilal Yadav, a lawyer, initiated the legal proceedings by filing a petition in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. The petition raises concerns about celebrities, especially the mentioned actors, endorsing products that are deemed harmful to the well-being of the public.
Deputy Solicitor General S B Pandey informed the court about the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) sending notices to the actors on October 20 in response to the contempt petition. The notices were issued based on the petition’s claims that the celebrities were involved in advertisements promoting items detrimental to public health. The legal proceedings stem from an earlier order in September 2022, where the court had issued notices to the Cabinet Secretary, chief commissioner, and the Central Consumer Protection Authority.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the Deputy Solicitor General informed the court that show cause notices were indeed served to Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgan on October 20. Additionally, it was mentioned that Amitabh Bachchan had taken legal action against a tobacco/gutka company for airing his advertisement against his wishes. Despite the termination of his contract, the company continued to run the advertisements, prompting legal intervention.
This legal saga underscores the broader issue of celebrities’ accountability in endorsing products that can jeopardize public health, prompting a closer examination of the responsibilities associated with their influential status.
