ASCI upholds complaints against 57 campaigns in November

Advertising industry watchdog ASCI has upheld complaints against 57 campaigns in November last year for misleading ads, including those of Maruti Suzuki, Hindustan Unilever, Ranbaxy, Pizza Hut, Bisleri and TVS.
According to the Customer Complaints Council (CCC) of ASCI (Advertising Standard Council of India), health and personal care category continued to lead with the highest number complaints of misleading ads during the month.
The watchdog upheld a complaint against Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), where the auto major in a TV commercial (TVC) of Alto 800 showed a couple celebrating Diwali and travelling with 'diya' (oil lamp).
"The advertisement sends a dangerous message of carrying an oil lamp in the car. It flouts the safety rules and spreads a dangerous message," the regulator said.

ASCI also found a commercial by TVS violating the norms where the two-wheeler manufacturer has shown a woman pillion riding without a helmet in one of the ads of Star City.
A similar complaint against Future Bazaar, which in a TVC of Big Bazaar shows a women pillion riding without helmet, was also upheld.

The Customer Complaints Council also ruled that Pizza Hut's hoardings claiming Rs 99 on any meal any day are "not factually true".
It also ruled against Bisleri claiming to have anti-acidic spring water from Himalayas.
Upholding another complaint, the regulator said Hindustan Unilever could not substantiate the claims of its new Close Up Deep Action Toothpaste of 'Confidence of Fresh breath till 12 hours'.

Besides, the CCC upheld complaints against Ranbaxy Laboratories, where it had claimed 21-day money back guarantee challenge on Revital.
ASCI also took action against on online ad on social networking site Facebook, where Stayzilla.Com displayed an image which is demeaning to woman.
"The CCC concluded that the Facebook Ad shows an indecent depiction of a woman and objectifies women, which is likely in the light of generally prevailing standards of decency and propriety, to cause grave or widespread offence," it said.
In health and personal care category, the CCC found that claims in 44 different advertisers had violated guidelines.