Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, along with six officials from Hyundai, have been named in an FIR in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, over allegations of fraud linked to the promotion of a vehicle said to have manufacturing defects. The case stems from a complaint filed by a local resident, who alleged that his Hyundai Alcazar SUV, purchased in 2022, developed major technical issues within months, and despite repeated follow-ups, the problems were not resolved.
The development comes at a time when growing attention is being placed on the accountability of brand endorsers following a Supreme Court ruling last year that made celebrities liable for misleading advertisements.
According to the complaint, filed by Bharatpur resident Kirti Singh, he purchased a Hyundai Alcazar in June 2022 for Rs 23,97,353 from Malwa Auto Sales Private Limited in Kundli, Sonipat, Haryana. Singh alleged that after using the vehicle for about six to seven months, it began showing recurring faults. “After driving the car for 6-7 months, technical faults started appearing. It would make noise and vibrate when driven at high speeds. The car shows malfunction signs on the engine management system," he stated in his complaint.
Singh further alleged that when he approached the dealership regarding these concerns, he was told that the issues were inherent to the car model and could not be fixed, indicating what he described as a manufacturing defect.
Singh first approached the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court No. 2 in Bharatpur by filing a private complaint. The court subsequently directed Mathura Gate police station to register a formal case under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to cheating, along with other relevant sections. Acting on the court’s order, the police have registered the FIR and initiated an investigation.
Shah Rukh Khan has been associated with Hyundai since 1998 and has long served as one of the company’s most recognisable brand ambassadors. Deepika Padukone joined the automobile giant as an ambassador in December 2023, and the two actors featured together in a Hyundai advertisement last year. The registration of the FIR marks a significant development, especially as it directly invokes the liability of celebrity endorsers, an issue highlighted by the Supreme Court’s 2023 order holding promoters responsible in cases of misleading or deceptive advertising.
As of now, neither Shah Rukh Khan nor Deepika Padukone has commented publicly on the complaint or the case filed against them.
Source: News18