Bihar court files FIR against Amitabh, Preity and Madhuri for endorsing Maggi

New Delhi: Bollywood celebrities Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Madhuri Dixit have landed in trouble for endorsing the instant noodles Maggi.

An FIR has been filed against the ambassadors by a district court Muzaffarpur​, Bihar and also two Nestle officials, the manufacturer of Maggi.

The Muzaffarpur court acted on a complaint filed by a lawyer Sudhir Kumar Ojha yesterday.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ramchandra Prasad directed Kazi Mohammadpur Police Station to register the FIR against the five and investigate the complaint.

The court also directed the police to go for arrest if required in the course of investigation.

The complainant claimed that he purchased Maggi from a shop at Lenin chowk of Muzaffarpur on May 30 and that he was taken ill after he ate it. This prompted him to file a case against Nestle, the maker of the noodles and the film stars who are the product's brand ambassadors.

Lenin Chowk falls under Kazi Mohammadpur police station.

The case has been filed under IPC sections 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 273 (sale of noxious food or drink), 276 (sale of drug as a different drug or preparation) and 420 (cheating and dishonesty). 

A case was registered against Nestle India in a local court in Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh by food regulator FSDA (Food Safety and Drug Administration), after they found monosodium glutamate and lead in excess of the prescribed limit in Maggi samples they tested.

The government on Monday said that they will have to face the consequences if the ads of the two-minute Maggie noodles are found to be misleading.

Big B, who promoted the snack before Madhuri said that he would be extra cautious about advertisements now.

Responding to a question on the controversy, the 72-year- old "Piku" star said, "I did check with Nestle, who make the product, whether this is all right and if they are sure... I even put a clause in my contract where I said that I hope you people defend me, legally, if something happens. I don't endorse it now because my contract is over."

Madhuri, who is the current face of the brand, was first to get Haridwar Food and Drug Administration's notice for claims made about the nutritional value of Maggi in the advertisement.

The 48-year-old actress later took to Twitter to explain that she met with the brand officials.

"Like most of India, I have enjoyed Maggi noodles for years. I was very concerned after recent reports and met with the Nestle team. Nestle explained that they always place the consumer first and have the highest quality standards.

"Nestle has reassured me that they adhere to stringent testing for quality and safety and are working with the authorities closely," she tweeted. 

A case was lodged Saturday against Nestle India in a local court in Barbanki over safety standards of its Maggi product while actors Amitabh Bachhan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta have also been separately dragged to the court for promoting the 'two-minute' noodles brand.

(With Agency Inputs)

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