THRISSUR: The consumer disputes redressal commission fined Dhathri and actor Anoop Menon, who acted in the advertisement, for false claims. The owner of the medical store who sold the product was also fined. The court ruled in favour of the complainant who filed a plea asserting that his hair did not grow as claimed in the advertisement.

When Anoop Menon, the brand ambassador of the product, was cross-examined, the actor said that he had never used the product and uses only the oil made by his mother. The court observed that the manufacturer was unable to satisfactorily provide the effectiveness of the product.

The court pronounced the verdict against ‘A One’ medical shop at Vailathur, managing director of Dhathri Ayurveda Private Ltd and actor Anoop Menon on the plea filed by Francis Vadakkan of Vailathur in Thrissur. The court said film and sports stars should have an accurate understanding of the product before starring in commercials.

As per the order by district commission president C T Babu and members K Radhakrishnan Nair, and S Sreeja, the actor and the company have to pay a compensation Rs 10,000 each to the customer. ‘A One’ medical shop proprietor has been directed to pay Rs 3000 to the customer.

The commission said stars should involve in advertisements only after ensuring the genuineness of claims associated with the products qualities. Advocate K D Benny appeared before the commission as counsel for the customer.