A district consumer forum in Delhi has imposed a fine of Rs 15 lakh on Emami Ltd, a company that manufactures the fairness cream “Fair and Handsome”. The fine was imposed after a man complained that the company’s advertising was deceptive and misleading. The man, who had purchased the cream in 2013, claimed that it failed to deliver the promised results of fair skin. The forum found that the company’s advertisement was misleading and that it had adopted unfair trade practices to promote the product. The forum ordered the company to discontinue the unfair trade practice, withdraw the packaging, labels, and advertisements, and pay a fine of Rs 14.50 lakh. The complainant was also awarded Rs 50,000 in punitive damages and Rs 10,000 in costs. The forum also ordered the company to deposit the fine in the Delhi State Consumer Welfare Fund. The company was found to have neglected to disclose important information, such as the need for a proper diet, exercise, and hygienic living conditions, in order to achieve the desired results from the product. The forum concluded that the company’s actions were deceptive and misleading, and that punitive damages were necessary to deter similar behavior in the future.
