Jaipur Consumer Commission Reissues Bailable Warrants Against Salman Khan in Ad Contempt Case
The Jaipur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission–II has once again summoned Bollywood superstar Salman Khan through fresh bailable warrants in an ongoing contempt petition. This legal action is connected to allegations of a misleading pan masala advertisement that has sparked consumer rights concerns.
Fresh Warrants Issued After Previous Attempts Fail
A bench led by Commission President Gyarsi Lal Meena, along with members Ajay Sharma and Supriya Agrawal, issued the new bailable warrants on Monday. The commission has specifically directed the Jaipur Police Commissioner to ensure proper execution of these warrants, marking an escalation in enforcement efforts. Salman Khan has been formally ordered to appear before the commission on February 23 to address the contempt allegations.
This development follows earlier bailable warrants that were issued during hearings of a contempt application filed by complainant Yogendra Singh. Since those initial warrants were not successfully executed, the commission determined that fresh legal instruments were necessary to compel the actor's appearance.
Khan's Legal Team Arguments Rejected
Earlier on Monday, the commission firmly rejected Salman Khan's application seeking cancellation of the bailable warrants. During the proceedings, legal representatives for both Khan and Rajshree Pan Masala presented arguments claiming the advertisement in question did not actually promote pan masala. Instead, they contended it was merely for "silver-coated elaichi" (cardamom), attempting to distinguish the product from tobacco-related items.
However, counsel for the complainant, Indra Mohan Singh Honey, provided counterarguments that proved persuasive. He reminded the commission that an interim ban on misleading advertisements by both Salman Khan and Rajshree Pan Masala had been imposed on January 6. "Despite this explicit prohibition, large hoardings and advertisements were allegedly displayed on January 9 in Jaipur, Kota, and several other cities," Honey stated. "This deliberate display constitutes clear contempt of the commission's authoritative order."
Legal Timeline and State Commission Intervention
The legal journey of this case reveals multiple layers of consumer protection enforcement:
- On January 15, the district consumer commission initially issued bailable warrants against Salman Khan.
- Challenging this action, the actor filed a revision petition before the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
- On February 6, the state commission issued a directive ordering the district commission to refrain from issuing arrest warrants until the existing bailable warrants had been properly executed.
- In compliance with this state-level order, the district consumer commission on Monday reissued only bailable warrants against Khan, carefully avoiding any arrest warrants.
This careful legal maneuvering demonstrates the procedural complexities involved in consumer protection cases involving high-profile celebrities. The commission's actions reflect a determined effort to balance enforcement of consumer rights with proper legal protocols, even when dealing with influential public figures.
The case continues to highlight important questions about celebrity endorsements, consumer protection regulations, and the enforcement mechanisms available to district consumer commissions when their orders face resistance or non-compliance from powerful commercial entities and their celebrity representatives.
