New Delhi, 12 June (H.S.):

Bollywood actor Salman Khan received interim relief on Friday after the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) stayed proceedings initiated against him in connection with a complaint alleging that a pan masala advertisement featuring the actor was misleading.

The order was passed while the national consumer watchdog heard an appeal challenging directions issued by a District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Kota, Rajasthan. The dispute concerns procedural issues related to the verification of signatures of the parties named in the complaint, including Salman Khan.

A bench headed by Justice A.P. Sahi, President of the NCDRC, along with member Bharat Kumar Pandya, issued notice to the complainant and ordered a temporary halt to further proceedings before the district commission until further directions are issued.

In its observations, the NCDRC noted that the appeal raises significant questions regarding the jurisdiction exercised by the district consumer forum and the manner in which the proceedings were conducted. Counsel representing the appellants argued that the district commission had moved forward with examining the authenticity of signatures before first determining whether the complaint itself was maintainable under law.

The national commission also took note of an earlier interim order passed by the Rajasthan High Court on May 27, which had stayed a previous direction of the district commission related to signature verification in the same matter.

According to submissions made before the NCDRC, similar complaints had allegedly been filed in multiple consumer forums, raising concerns about duplication of proceedings and possible misuse of legal processes. Taking these arguments into consideration, the commission directed that a copy of its order be placed before the district forum and ordered that all further proceedings there remain suspended for the time being.

The case stems from a consumer complaint alleging that a pan masala advertisement featuring Salman Khan and other personalities conveyed misleading claims to the public. The complaint was originally filed before the district consumer commission in Kota.

Friday’s order does not determine the merits of the allegations but provides temporary relief while the jurisdictional and procedural issues raised in the appeal are examined. The matter is scheduled to come up for further hearing before the NCDRC on June 22.

The development marks the latest legal turn in a case that has drawn attention due to concerns over celebrity endorsements and consumer protection standards in advertising.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar