An FIR has been lodged in Rajasthan against Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, along with six senior officials of Hyundai Motor India, over allegations of misleading promotion and manufacturing defects in a Hyundai SUV. The complaint was filed by a local resident, Kirti Singh, who purchased a Hyundai Alcazar in 2022 for over ₹23 lakh.
Complaint over defective SUV
In his complaint, Singh stated that after driving the SUV for just six to seven months, the vehicle began developing serious technical issues. “The car would make noise and vibrate when driven at high speeds. The engine management system would also show repeated malfunction signs,” he alleged.
Singh further claimed that despite repeated complaints to the company, no action was taken to address the defects. Frustrated, he first approached the police, but when they refused to register the case, he moved court.
Court orders FIR registration
Following the court’s directions, Bharatpur’s Mathura Gate police station registered the FIR on August 25 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The complaint names top Hyundai executives, including Managing Director Anso Kim, COO Tarun Garg, Malwa Auto Sales Pvt. Ltd. MD Nitin Sharma, and Director Priyanka Sharma. It also holds Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone responsible for endorsing the brand, alleging that their promotion of the car misled customers into believing in its reliability.
Allegations against brand ambassadors
Singh argued that high-profile endorsements by celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone strongly influence consumer trust, and therefore, they too bear accountability for promoting a product that allegedly turned out to be defective.
So far, neither Shah Rukh Khan nor Deepika Padukone’s representatives have issued a statement in response to the FIR.
Background and next steps
Hyundai Motor India has not yet commented on the case. Legal experts note that the FIR could trigger a prolonged legal battle, with possible implications for brand endorsement contracts in the automobile sector.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan continues to make headlines for his upcoming film “King”, directed by Siddharth Anand, which also stars his daughter Suhana Khan alongside Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Jaideep Ahlawat and Abhay Verma.
Conclusion
The FIR highlights growing scrutiny over the accountability of brand ambassadors in consumer disputes. The matter is now under police investigation, and further legal proceedings are expected in the coming weeks.