Maharashtra: Tukaram Mundhe-Led FDA Cracks Down On Vimal Ad, Issues Notices To SRK, Ajay Devgn & Tiger Shroff

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, led by Tukaram Mundhe, has issued show-cause notices to Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff over their involvement in an advertisement for Vimal Elaichi. The FDA claims the ad might serve as a surrogate or indirect promotion of prohibited pan masala or tobacco products.

The stars have been given 15 days to submit a written response explaining their participation. If no satisfactory explanation is provided, further legal action may be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related regulations.

The notice, dated August 11, 2026, was issued under the authority of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and associated regulations. The FDA highlighted that the Vimal brand is strongly linked with Pan Masala in the market, while noting that pan masala products are banned in Maharashtra. Recently, the FDA suspended the license of a Pizza Hut outlet in Karad, Satara district, due to alleged breaches of food safety and hygiene standards, including the failure to use separate ovens and pans for vegetarian and non-vegetarian pizzas.

Another inspection at an Akola Sapphire Foods outlet resulted in the seizure of 55 kg of frozen paneer, which was deemed misbranded and substandard.

The FDA's crackdown targeted 104 chain restaurant establishments across Maharashtra, ordering two to cease operations, issuing improvement notices to 95, and suspending the licenses of five establishments.