The Rajasthan High Court granted interim relief to Bollywood celebrities Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in a case that accused them of misleading consumers through a car endorsement. The two actors were named in a complaint filed by Kirti Singh in Bharatpur, along with company officials, and were held responsible for alleged defects in a Hyundai vehicle.
A FIR was registered in the matter earlier in the month, claiming that Singh had suffered a financial loss after buying the vehicle which later developed defects. According to a report by the Free Press Journal, he alleged that the endorsements by SRK and Deepika played a pivotal role in his decision to purchase the car. Reportedly, the FIR also listed six company officials.
Well, the actors were quick to move to the Rajasthan High Court and sought to have the FIR quashed. Appearing for the 59-year-old actor, senior advocate Kapil Sibal shared that he had no direct connection with the complaint. Sibal mentioned, “Endorsements do not imply responsibility for manufacturing standards.” On the other hand, Advocate Madhav Mitra, Deepika’s representative, argued that her involvement with the brand was limited to promotions and she had no “role to play in the production or quality control.”
As per the media publication, the defence team pointed out that the complainant had already used the vehicle for nearly three years and clocked more than 67,000 kilometres before filing the complaint. They argued that if he did have issues, he should have approached the consumer court sooner.
SEE ALSO: Shah Rukh Khan’s Team Requests Fans To ‘Keep The Magic Alive’ After His Look From King Leaks
Hearing the matter in Jodhpur, Justice Sudesh Bansal noted that the FIR lacked any factual basis. The FIR has now been stayed by the court against all the accused, including the actors and six company officials. The next hearing in the matter will take place on September 5.
For those who don’t know, Shah Rukh Khan has been the face of Hyundai since 1998. He is one of the longest-serving brand ambassadors. Deepika Padukone had come on board in December 2023, appearing in a campaign together last year.
