In a rather dramatic turn inside Courtroom No. 3 of the Rajasthan High Court's Jaipur bench, Justice Sudesh Bansal put an immediate brake on criminal proceedings against four well-known personalities - Hyundai India's top brass and its brand ambassadors Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.
The case stemmed from allegations that a Hyundai Alcazar car sold in 2022 had manufacturing defects, a charge the bench appeared unconvinced about.
Background
The saga began when a Bharatpur-based buyer lodged a complaint, claiming his Hyundai Alcazar (1.5 AT Signature Black) repeatedly broke down despite being barely three years old and having clocked around 67,000 km. Frustrated, he demanded either a replacement or a full refund from Hyundai. When no response came, he turned to the courts.
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The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Bharatpur forwarded his complaint to the local police under the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) provisions, leading to the registration of FIR No. 558/2025 at Mathuragate police station. Curiously, the complaint named not only the dealership but also Hyundai's Managing Director Unsoo Kim, COO Tarun Garg, and its two Bollywood brand ambassadors.
Court's Observations
Inside the packed courtroom, senior advocate Kapil Sibal - appearing virtually - minced no words. He argued that the case was 'a clear misuse of criminal law' meant to harass public figures. He pointed out that neither Kim nor Garg had any personal involvement in the sale of the car, and Khan and Padukone merely promoted the brand.
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The bench observed, "Even if the vehicle had issues, vicarious criminal liability cannot be fastened on brand ambassadors or senior executives who had no direct role in the sale," a lawyer present told this reporter.
Justice Bansal also noted a glaring omission: Hyundai Motor India Ltd. itself was never made a party to the complaint. He remarked that consumer grievances about defective products should ideally go before consumer forums, not criminal courts, and certainly not against celebrities.
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Decision
Finding the case prima facie dubious, the court issued notices to the complainant and sought the complete record from the Bharatpur magistrate’s court. Until then, all further investigation against the four petitioners has been stayed.
In an unusual yet practical step, Justice Bansal suggested mediation as a way forward.
"The grievance, whatever it may be, can be resolved through mediation," he said, adding that an authorised officer from Hyundai or its local dealer should try to reach an amicable settlement with the complainant.
The matter is now slated for hearing on September 25, and the investigating officer has been directed to inform the complainant about these proceedings. For now, the high-profile accused can breathe easy, at least until the next round in court.
Case Title: Shah Rukh Khan v/s The State Of Rajasthan and anr. and Batch
