Salman Khan Defends Role in Pan Masala Ad Row, Claims Endorsement Was for Cardamom

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has issued a detailed clarification to the Kota Consumer Court regarding his role in an ongoing pan masala advertisement controversy, emphatically stating that he only endorsed silver-coated cardamom and “not gutkha.”

The actor submitted a comprehensive response to the court, which is hearing a complaint against him over an alleged misleading advertisement for the Rajshree Pan Masala brand. Khan’s legal representative, advocate Ashish Dubey, argued that the complaint is legally unjustified as the actor is neither a manufacturer nor a service provider for pan masala, and therefore the Consumer Commission lacks the jurisdiction to address the matter against him.

Mr. Dubey clarified that the product endorsed by Khan was silver-coated cardamom, an item that falls outside the pan masala category, thus weakening the core premise of the complaint. He further claimed that the actor was being subjected to “unnecessary harassment.”

The controversy began when complainant Pradeep Instructor Singh Hani and Kota BJP leader Inder Mohan Singh Honey filed a complaint. They alleged that the advertisement, which promotes both “saffron-coated cardamom” and “saffron-coated pan masala,” encourages young people to consume tobacco products, for which Khan, as a role model, should be held accountable. The complaint also questioned the authenticity of the saffron used in a budget-priced product, claiming the public was being misled.

Adding a twist to the legal proceedings, the complainant has raised objections to the response filed on Khan’s behalf, contending that the signatures on the document do not appear to be genuine. The complainant has requested the court to mandate Khan’s personal appearance to verify the signatures.

The court, which previously issued notices to both Salman Khan and the company, has scheduled the next hearing for the case on December 9.