PUNE: Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated adjudication proceedings in the Vimal pan masala controversy involving Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, even as the actor has approached the High Court challenging the action.FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde said on Sunday that the department would continue with the proceedings in accordance with the law.Speaking to ANI, Munde said, “Even if the concerned person has moved the High Court, we have already started adjudicating proceedings and will proceed in accordance with the law.”On October 30, Munde had said that all three individuals named in the FDA proceedings had responded to the notices issued to them and sought additional time to submit their replies.He had also confirmed that actor Ajay Devgn had independently approached the High Court, challenging the proceedings initiated by the department.Explaining the status of the case, Munde said the Assistant Commissioner, who is the designated authority at the initial stage of the proceedings, had completed the hearings.The matter has now been forwarded to the Joint Commissioner, who will take a decision through the adjudication process.The controversy involves show-cause and legal notices issued to Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over their endorsement of Vimal Elaichi advertisements.Authorities have alleged that the advertisements amount to surrogate promotions for prohibited pan masala and tobacco products.(With ANI inputs)
