Written By: N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe | Updated : November 5, 2025 9:46 PM IST
Bollywood actor Salman Khan has once again landed in legal trouble after a complaint was filed against him in Rajasthan's Kota Consumer Court for allegedly endorsing a 'misleading' advertisement for a popular pan masala brand.
The complaint against Salman Khan was filed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajasthan High Court advocate Inder Mohan Singh Honey seeking a ban on advertisements that promote "saffron-infused cardamom" and "saffron-infused pan masala".
The petitioner questioned the credibility of these claims while arguing that saffron costs around rupees 4 lakhs per kg, cannot be logically used in a rupees 5 packet.
Advocate Inder Mohan Singh Honey told the media, "The company, Rajshree Pan Masala and its brand ambassador, actor Salman Khan, claim that the product contains saffron and encourages the youth to consume it. Salman Khan is a role model for many people. We have filed a complaint against it in the Kota Consumer Court and notices have been issued for a hearing."
The complaint further added that this kind of advertisement encourages youths to consume pan masala, which is associated with an increased number of cancer cases in India. "Celebrities or film stars in other countries don't even promote cold drinks, but they are promoting tobacco and pan masala. I urge them to not spread the wrong message to the youth as pan masala is one of the leading causes of mouth cancer," Honey further added.
Taking cognizance of the matter, the Kota Consumer Court has issued notices to the actor and has scheduled a hearing for November 27, 2025.
In a study published in the National Institute of Health (NIH), although chronic usage of pan masala and gutka is relatively safe to use, chronic usage may result in certain types of cancer.
The US health agency clarifies, "There is a general misconception among lay public that smokeless tobacco particularly sweetened and flavoured paan masalas (commercial preparation of areca nut and/or tobacco and spices) and gutka (mixture of tobacco, areca nut and molasses) are relatively safe to use."
"However, it is now well established that chronic use of tobacco, betel nut and saccharin based products are responsible for the increasing prevalence of early onset submucous fibrosis, leukoplakia, oral cancers and tendency to develop diabetes, hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) at young age in Indian people3 7."
