Sachin Tendulkar's name, photo, voice used in fake ads; ex-cricketer files complaint with Mumbai Crime Branch

Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar filed a criminal complaint with the Mumbai Crime Branch on Thursday over his name, photo and voice being used in fake medicinal advertisements on the internet.

Tendulkar’s personal details were used by the company in order to cheat and dupe consumers. The case has been filed by Sachin’s personal assistant (PA) with Additional Commissioner of Crime Shashi Kumar Meena against unidentified people under Sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery) and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The FIR which has been lodged with the West Region Cyber Police Station states that the 50-year-old cricketer’s PA came across an advertisement for Belly Burner Oil on May 5 on Facebook which contained Tendulkar’s photo. The text also stated that the product was endorsed by the sportsman.

Later, Tendulkar’s PA also found the cricketer’s photos on a drug company’s website called Sachinhealth.in which was selling fat-melting spray. The advertisement claimed that the product was recommended by the veteran athlete and the buyer will also get a T-shirt signed by Tendulkar free of cost.

Tendulkar in a complaint stated that he doesn’t endorse any such products and that his photo and name are being misused by the company to mislead people.

This is not the first time that Tendulkar’s image has been misused in this manner. Earlier in 2022, Tendulkar initiated legal action against a casino in Goa for using a morphed photo of him in promotional material.

Earlier, Tendulkar’s team had released a statement, stating that they would take legal action against companies and individuals who are using his name, and photo for commercial purposes without his permission.