IPL 2022 ad featuring MS Dhoni as bus driver to be withdrawn after complaint of glorifying traffic law violation

In the ad, Dhoni is seen in garb of a bus driver who stops the bus mid road to watch IPL super over.

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2022) has gotten underway and there was much hype created by official broadcasters on TV and social media by putting out funny and relatable promos for the IPL 15 season featuring the iconic MS Dhoni.

One of the said promos saw MS Dhoni in the garb of a bus driver who stops the bus in the middle of a very busy road. The advertisement shows that when a traffic policeman arrives at the scene and questions Dhoni’s actions, he says they are watching the ‘Super Over’ of an IPL match.

A traffic policeman asks Dhoni what was up and goes away treating it as a normal occurrence after being told that IPL super over was on.

Here is the promo:

Now, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has asked the Indian Premier League (IPL) to withdraw this promo after a road safety organization lodged a complaint citing that the promo was glorifying violation of traffic rules.

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This complaint was filed by Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) against the promotional advertisement.

The ASCI, which is a voluntary industry body, took cognizance of the grievance. Then, the Consumer Complaints Committee (CCC) members of the council watched the ad with the representative of the company which has made the promo.

But the committee found it violating its code and instructed the advertisement-making company to either modify it or completely withdraw it by April 20. The company has accepted it in writing that it will withdraw it.

(Times of India inputs)