In its report on the Consumer Protection Bill 2015, tabled in Parliament today, the panel has suggested legal teeth to To make celebrities accountable for misleading advertisements, a Parliamentary Standing Committee recommended stringent provisions, including a jail term of up to five years and a hefty penalty of up to Rs 50 lakh, to protect consumer interest.
- The committee, headed by Telugu Desam Party Member of Parliament J C Divakar Reddy, said in its report: "The committee strongly feels that misrepresentation of a product, especially of food product, should be taken very seriously, considering the influence of celebrities and high networth individuals and companies.
- The existing laws are not deterrent enough to discourage manufacturers or publishers from using such personalities for misleading ads.”
- The committee recommends that for first time offence, the offender may be penalised with either a fine of Rs 10 lakh or imprisonment up to two years or both.
- For second time offence, a fine of Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment of five years.
- For subsequent offences, the penalties may be increased proportionately based on the value of sales volumes of such products or services.
Recently, Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni had to resign as brand ambassador of Amrapali after residents of a housing society started a protest against the builder and the cricketer on social media.
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