"It would make noise and vibrate when driven at high speeds."
An FIR has been registered against Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, along with six Hyundai officials, in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
The case concerns a fraud complaint linked to alleged manufacturing defects in a Hyundai vehicle.
The complaint was filed by Bharatpur resident Kirti Singh, who claimed that his Hyundai Alcazar SUV, purchased in 2022 for over Rs. 23 lakh, developed major technical issues in just a few months.
According to Mr Singh, he took out a Rs. 10 lakh loan to pay for the vehicle.
Mr Singh said that despite repeated complaints, the company failed to resolve his concerns.
He alleged: “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.”
Mr Singh moved court after police initially declined to act on his grievance.
Acting on directions from the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Bharatpur, Mathura Gate Police Station registered the FIR on August 25.
The case was filed under sections 420, 406 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, as well as sections 312, 318, 316, 61 and 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In his petition, Mr Singh named Hyundai Motor India’s Managing Director Anso Kim, COO Tarun Garg, and executives Nitin Sharma and Priyanka Sharma of Malwa Auto Sales Pvt. Ltd.
According to Bhaskar, he also named Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, holding them accountable for promoting a defective product.
Mr Singh argued that the brand ambassadors’ endorsements misled consumers.
He said: “I purchased the Hyundai company’s car for over Rs. 23 lakh.”
Shah Rukh Khan has been a brand ambassador for Hyundai since 1998 and has fronted campaigns for models including the Hyundai Santro and the Ioniq 5 electric SUV.
Deepika Padukone joined as a brand ambassador in December 2023 and has promoted the Creta Electric.
Both featured in a campaign that showcased the 2024 Hyundai Creta.
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, states that endorsers can be penalised if products they promote are found to be misleading.
In 2024, the Supreme Court also ruled that celebrities and influencers share responsibility for the advertisements they endorse.
Till now, neither Shah Rukh Khan nor Deepika Padukone’s teams have commented on the FIR. Bharatpur police have begun investigating the case.
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