Amazon's One Kilo Gold contest ads attract protest in TN

A political party alleges Amazon advertised details of contest without mentioning that people of TN are not eligible to participate

A political party in Tamil Nadu has raised its contention against the advertisement campaign of e-commerce major Amazon in the state as in the company's One Kilo Gold contest, residents of the state have been excluded from being eligible for the prize under the official rules of the contest.

The official rules of the contest, on Amazon website state that "Residents of the state of Tamil Nadu are not eligible to enter or participate in this contest".

Former Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) MLA and Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi founder Panruti T Velmurugan T Velmurugan, in a statement issued today, alleged that despite the official rules keeps the residents in Tamil Nadu out of eligibility, the company has been advertising on front pages of the newspapers in the state stating that the customers who shop in its portal between October 13 and 17 has an opportunity to win one kilo of gold.

In response, Amazon India spokesperson said, "The contest is prohibited in the state of Tamil Nadu under the Tamil Nadu Prize Schemes (Prohibition) Act, 1979 and hence, the residents of Tamil Nadu are not eligible to participate in the Contest."

Velmurugan said that the information that the residents of Tamil Nadu are not eligible to participate in the contest was not mentioned in the newspaper advertisement. He sought the state government to take action against the company.

According to a report, another movement, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam has filed a police complaint in Coimbatore against Amazon related to this.