ASA Adjudication on Pundit Maharaj

Ad

Hindi and English versions of an ad for Pundit Maharaj aired on Venus TV. The voice-over said “Pundit Maharaj established since 1952 in England. Numerous successful clients all over the world. For more information please call 07974 XXXXX or log on to www.punditjimarharaj.com .” The ad featured a graphic of a palm and, in the top right of the screen, a circling wheel of zodiac signs.

Issue

Monitoring staff challenged whether the ad indirectly promoted an unacceptable product as defined by rule 3.1 (i).

BCAP TV Code

Response

Venus TV withdrew the ad as soon as the challenge was brought to their attention. They explained that the person normally in charge of compliance had been unable to carry out the routine advertising checks.  Venus TV acknowledged that someone else should have been carrying out the compliance checks in the meantime.  Venus TV explained that the advertiser had assured them that the ad had been approved and was being shown on other channels.  Venus TV added that they had requested a clearance certificate for the ad and that they would not show the ad again until they had it.  

Assessment

1. Upheld

The ASA welcomed Venus TVs assurance that the ad had been withdrawn.  We reminded Venus TV that the responsibility for advertising content lay with the broadcaster and it was not acceptable to rely on other broadcasters clearances.  We noted the website that was featured in the ad stated Everyday you read in the papers about the different SPIRITUAL HEALERS and ASTROLOGERS and of their AUTHENTICITY and POWERS ... PUNDIT JEE is the only SPIRITUAL HEALER who can prove by DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE that his FAMILY i.e., FATHER and he have been ESTABLISHED in ENGLAND since 1952. NO other PSYCHIC can prove their EXISTENCE and AUTHENTICITY with DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE. This PROVES that PUNDIT JEE is the only SUCCESSFUL SPIRITUAL HEALER who has helped PEOPLE from all walks of life and can prove this by LETTERS from SATISFIED CLIENTELE who have had their PROBLEMS solved with a 100% GUARANTEE."  

"If you have a problem that has not been solved by any GURU or SPIRITUAL HEALER PUNDIT JEE invites you to contact him as a LAST RESORT and I PROMISE that all your PROBLEMS will be finished FOREVER and you will be one of the MILLIONS of DEVOTEES of PUNDIT MAHARAJ who are leading SUCCESSFUL and CONFIDENT lives and come EVERY YEAR from all over the WORLD to pay their RESPECTS and touch PUNDIT JEE'S feet.

Because ads for the occult and psychic practices were prohibited by rule 10.3, we considered that the ad indirectly promoted an unacceptable product.

The ad breached CAP (Broadcast) TV Advertising Standards Code rule 3.2. (Indirect promotion).

Action

The ad must not be shown again.  

Adjudication of the ASA Council (Broadcast)