The Rajasthan High Court has granted interim relief to Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in a case concerning a defective Hyundai car, staying the First Information Report (FIR) filed in Bharatpur. Along with the two actors, senior officials of Hyundai Motors are also named in the complaint, and the stay order shields them from investigation in the meantime.
The FIR was lodged by a resident of Bharatpur, who alleged that a Hyundai Alcazar vehicle sold to her developed persistent defects after use. According to the complaint, despite driving the car for a considerable number of kilometres, the owner faced repeated technical issues, and Hyundai did not satisfactorily respond to requests for either replacement or repairs. The complainant named Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone owing to their association with the brand as its ambassadors, asserting that their endorsement carries a level of accountability when promotional activities relate to defective products.
The actors’ legal counsel argued before the court that their role was restricted to promotional endorsement and that they neither had involvement in the manufacture of the vehicle nor in its sale or technical operations. They contended that there was no factual basis in the FIR to implicate them in the alleged defects. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal represented Shah Rukh Khan, while Advocate Madhav Mitra represented Deepika Padukone.
During the proceedings in Jodhpur, Justice Sudesh Bansal observed that the FIR lacked substantive material to hold the endorsers guilty of wrongdoing. Noting that mere association as brand ambassadors without direct role in technical or manufacturing aspects does not establish a nexus with alleged product defects, the court found the grounds for their inclusion in the complaint to be weak for now.
The relief order stays the FIR against both actors and the Hyundai officials named, effective for the duration of the interim period. The High Court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 25, by which time it expects fuller arguments on whether the allegations justify continuation of the investigation as framed.
Justice Bansal’s interim order underscores the legal distinction between advertising and technical liability. The court has provisionally accepted that being a brand ambassador does not automatically translate into being responsible for technical defects or manufacturing issues. The court’s stay reflects the importance of ensuring that persons are not subjected to legal proceedings without prima facie material connecting them to alleged misconduct.
The case has drawn public interest, particularly given concerns about celebrity endorsements and product safety. It highlights the increasing judicial scrutiny on cases where public figures are linked with branded products that malfunction, raising questions of consumer protection and accountability.
For now, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and the Hyundai officials enjoy protection from investigation under the FIR, but the ultimate outcome will depend on how the court evaluates the evidence, including the precise nature of their involvement (if any) and whether the product defects claimed are supported by technical and documentary proof.
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