Reliance Communications CDMA Plan, Parle Agro LMN Juice, Volkswagon Polo asked to withdraw their ads.
According to the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) Decision report for the month of May and June released by Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) prominent brands went overboard in their claims, and hence were asked to withdraw or modify their advertisements.
For the month of June, companies like Reliance Communications Ltd and Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd., with 2 ads each, were asked to withdraw their ads. Also, ads of Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd. (for LMN Juice) and Scorpio Enterprise (Natraj Atta Maker) were questioned. For the month of May, the advertisement of Johnson & Johnson Ltd (Stayfree Secure Ultra Thin Napkins) was questioned for its claim.
Advertisements with claims that might not be exclusive just to one particular product can mislead consumers, and that is what got the TVC for J&J Stayfree Secure Ultra Thin Napkins into trouble. The ad claimed that due to a "super-absorbent polymer", heavy flow is converted into gel and locked. However, this benefit is also provided by other sanitary napkins, that don't use a super-absorbent polymer.
The TVC also made a comparison with another product – Whisper Choice (which has similar, orange packaging). According to the CCC, though the commercial did not denigrate the competitor's product, the communication was misleading, and hence, the advertiser was asked to modify it appropriately.
Natraj Atta maker was found to have made 3 claims, one of which was that it saves up to 25% grains - which has not been substantiated. The advertisers have promised to withdraw the misleading claims.
The TVC of LMN Juice is considered to have hinted at racism, by portraying an African nation in a bad light using undernourished stereotypes as Africans. The ad has been withdrawn.
As for Reliance Communications Ltd., the unsubstantiated claims made regarding both Net Calls and the Reliance CDMA Plan has resulted in withdrawal of both the ads. Though the advertisers claim that net calls are unlimited and the CDMA plan gives unlimited talk time, both these plans are subject to certain limits not mentioned in the ads.
In the auto sector it was the new Volkswagen Polo ad campaign under Chapter III.4, that has been discontinued under the violation of the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001. The advertisements use a rhino and buffaloes, and both these ads were found to portray violence against animals.
Complaints made against Mankind Pharma Ltd (Don't Worry Sanitary Pads), Kalyan Jewellers, State Bank of India, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co Ltd (Bajaj Allianz Shield Plus), TIME (IIT-JEE 2011/2012), Henkel India Ltd (Pril Power Gel), Career Launcher (I) Ltd (CAT'09, GMAT'09, CET'09 Results), Coca Cola India P. Ltd (Thums Up – Thunder Wheels Offer), Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (Milma Ice Cream), Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Ltd, GlaxosmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd. (Horlicks), Travel Guru (Travelguru.com), Paras Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Zatak deodorant) and Noesis Education And Management Services(Free CAT – 10 Workshop) were also not substantiated.