Rajasthan High Court Stays Consumer Forum Proceedings Against Actor Salman Khan Over Alleged Misleading Advertisement

The Rajasthan High Court has stayed proceedings pending against actor Salman Khan before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Jaipur II, over an alleged misleading advertisement by Rajshree Pan Masala starring the actor.In doing so the high court also stayed DCDRC's interim order dated January 6 restraining the company selling the product and the actor from engaging in any misleading publicity. The court also stayed State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC)'s order dated March 16 whereby the State Commission had declined to interfere with DCDRC's order dated January 15 issuing warrants against the actor. Justice Anuroop Singh in his order said:"...issue notice to the respondents. Mr. Himmat Singh, Advocate, puts in appearance on behalf of respondent No.1 – Mr. Yogendra Singh Badiyal, who himself is also present-in-person before this Court. Mr. Divesh Sharma, Advocate, accepts notice on behalf of the respondent No.2. Hence, service is complete and notice need not be filed. Learned counsel for the petitioner is directed to serve a copy of the writ petition in the Offices of the learned counsel for the respondents within seven days from today. Names of Mr. Himmat Singh, Advocate and Mr. Divesh Sharma, Advocate, be shown in the cause list as learned counsel for their respective respondents. Learned counsel for the respondents pray for and are granted four weeks' time to file their reply to the writ petition.List the matter on 12.05.2026 along with S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 5836/2026.In the meanwhile and till the next date, the effect and operation of the order dated 16.03.2026 (Annexure-P-2), the order dated 06.01.2026 (Annexure-P-3) and further proceedings in Consumer Complaint No.879/2025 pending before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Jaipur II, shall remain stayed". The actor had moved a petition challenging March 16 order of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC), Rajasthan and order dated January 6 passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC) Jaipur II, Senior advocate G.S. Bapna appearing for the actor submitted that the Consumer Complaint was filed before DCDRC alleging that the advertisements of “Rajshree Pan Masala” published in newspapers are misleading and harmful to public health and in violation of regulatory frameworks. It was argued that the petitioner has been arrayed as a respondent in the complaint solely on the ground of being the Brand Ambassador for respondent No.2's (Kamla Kant And Company LLP which owns Rajshree Pan Masala) “silver coated elaichi” product and for allegedly appearing in the advertisement of the pan masala.It was submitted that the petitioner has only endorsed respondent No.2's “silver-coated elaichi” product and has never ever advertised or endorsed respondent No.2's pan masala product and thus, the complaint is ex-facie frivolous and misconceived. It was submitted that DCDRC lacked jurisdiction to entertain the complaint with respect to a 'false or misleading advertisement', as any such complaint can be filed only before a Central Consumer Protection Authority and the learned State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, despite taking cognizance of the said fact, has erred by dismissing the revision petition.It was submitted that despite the complainant miserably failing to setup prima facie case in his favour, the ad-interim order dated 06.01.2026 was passed by the DCDRC, Jaipur II. The interim order dated 06.01.2026 was never served upon the petitioner and thus, there was no occasion whatsoever for the complainant to proceed with the filing of the contempt proceedings on 15.01.2026, much less for the DCDRC to issue bailable warrants thereon, without recording any finding with respect to the service of the order upon the petitioner. It was submitted that against the order dated 15.01.2026 passed by the DCDRC, an appeal has already been preferred by the petitioner before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).Meanwhile National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission had in an interim order on Wednesday (April 8) kept in abeyance bailable arrest warrants issued by the DCDRC against the actor. Case title: Salman Khan v/s Yogendra Singh Badiyal, Advocate & Anr. S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 5850/2026Click Here To Read/Download Order

Rajasthan High Court Stays Consumer Forum Proceedings Against Actor Salman Khan Over Alleged Misleading Advertisement

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