Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2020
Bombay High Court fines Emami for breaching an order
Fine or penalty
The Bombay High Court directed Emami Limited to pay INR 100,000 for violating an earlier order that temporarily restrained it from using the disputed GLOW & HANDSOME mark. HUL had accused Emami of using the mark in breach of that injunction; the court accepted an apology from a senior management staff member and directed the payment to a hospital.
Company response
Apology — Emami
One of the senior management staff of the Respondent company tendered an apology in the Court by stating that they had inadvertently and unintentionally used the mark GLOW & HANDSOME on some websites.
Source excerpt
The Bombay High Court, through an order dated October 12, 2020, directed Emami Limited to pay a fine of INR 100,000 for a violation of its previous order.
The High Court had temporarily banned the company from using the trademark GLOW & HANDSOME as disputed by the Petitioner, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL).
Emami has also hinted at taking legal action as it has already changed its men's fairness cream's name to 'Emami Glow & Handsome'.
2011
AMRI Hospital fire
On 9 December 2011, a fire at AMRI Hospital in Kolkata killed 92 people, most of them critically ill patients. Reports cited alleged storage of flammable chemicals and failures involving access, doors, alarms, and sprinklers. The hospital license was canceled, a judicial inquiry was ordered, and directors associated with the hospital, including Emami founders R. S. Agarwal and R. S. Goenka, were arrested and charged in connection with the deaths. The available reference states that 16 people were accused in court by 2016.
2007
Criticism of Fair and Handsome advertising
Emami and campaign spokesperson Shah Rukh Khan were criticized over advertising for Fair and Handsome that opponents said perpetuated racism or colorism by presenting lighter skin as desirable for men.