Ajay Devgn's Vimal Elaichi ad controversy: FDA chief Tukaram Munde says proceedings will continue despite Drishyam 3 actor's High Court plea

Ajay Devgn has moved the Bombay High Court over a notice issued by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding his appearance in Vimal Elaichi advertisements. The actor, recently seen in the blockbuster Drishyam 3, has challenged the proceedings the department initiated against him. Meanwhile, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde has said that the department will continue with the adjudication process in accordance with the law, despite Devgn moving the High Court.

Why has Ajay Devgn approached the Bombay High Court?

According to a report by NDTV, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna is likely to hear Devgn's petition on November 4.

The controversy started after the Maharashtra FDA issued notices to Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn, Shah Rukh Khan and Tiger Shroff over their association with Vimal Elaichi advertisements. The department alleged that these advertisements amounted to surrogate promotion of Vimal Pan Masala, a chewable product banned in Maharashtra.




In his petition, the actor challenged the notice, arguing that it was "arbitrarily" issued to him as an actor rather than to the manufacturing company. The actor has questioned why he was made a respondent in the proceedings over his appearance in the advertisements.

Shah Rukh Khan and Tiger Shroff have also received similar notices from the FDA over their association with the brand.

Tukaram Munde on Vimal pan masala controversy

Amid the legal developments, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde spoke to ANI and said, "Even if the concerned person has moved the High Court, we have already started adjudicating proceedings and will proceed in accordance with the law."

Earlier, on October 30, Munde had said that all three individuals named in the FDA proceedings had responded to the notices issued to them. They had also requested additional time to present their submissions before the department.

Munde further confirmed that Devgn had independently approached the High Court to challenge the proceedings initiated against him by the FDA.

What's the latest on the FDA proceedings?

The hearings before the Assistant Commissioner, who is in charge of the first stage of the proceedings, were over, Munde said, giving an update on the case.

Now the matter has been referred to the Joint Commissioner, who will look into the matter and decide through the adjudication process. The department will proceed in accordance with the applicable legal provisions. Stay tuned for more updates.