Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Munde has defended official notices issued to prominent actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff regarding the alleged surrogate promotion of prohibited tobacco-related products. Speaking publicly at a conclave, Munde emphasized that anyone violating the law must face consequences and warned that additional enforcement measures are currently in the pipeline.
Munde stated that the regulatory actions were well within the legal mandate of the FDA and were not designed to generate publicity. Citing provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 along with food safety advertising regulations from 2018, he argued that celebrities endorsing commercial products are legally required to exercise due diligence to ensure their promotions comply with applicable laws.
Addressing responses from the actors, Munde noted that they had replied to the notices and requested another hearing. The department intends to grant them a further opportunity to be heard before proceeding in accordance with legal procedures. He stressed that the regulations apply broadly to food advertising rather than solely to prohibited items, making endorsers accountable whenever established rules are breached.
The commissioner also addressed questions regarding political pressure, stating that no politician had contacted him to urge a slower approach toward food safety and pharmaceutical violations. He maintained that public attention should focus squarely on public health issues like food safety and drug efficacy rather than on him personally.
Outlining broader initiatives, Munde described efforts to establish food safety as a widespread public movement involving schools, parents, producers, and the supply chain. The FDA has initiated campaigns focusing on school nutrition, public awareness regarding proper food storage, and digital systems to track milk adulteration and hygiene standards across collection centers in the state.