Baba Ramdev Summoned by Supreme Court for Alleged Misleading Advertisements
The Supreme Court has summoned Swami Ramdev (co-founder of Patanjali) and Patanjali’s MD Acharya Balkrishnan regarding the announcement of misleading medicines. The company and Acharya Balkrishnan have not filed a response to the notice, which is why this order has been issued.
They will now have to appear in court on the next date. Besides, Justice Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah have also sent a notice to Baba Ramdev to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him.
Earlier, in the hearing held on February 27, the court had imposed a ban on advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved that misled. Apart from this, Patanjali Ayurved and Acharya Balkrishnan were also served notices for their conduct of disrespect.
Associated Cases with Misleading Advertisements
The Supreme Court had conducted a hearing on the petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on August 17, 2022. It was mentioned therein that Patanjali had advertised against Covid vaccination and propagated negative against allopathy. It was also claimed that some diseases could be treated incorrectly with their Ayurvedic medicines.
Even after the court’s orders, Patanjali continued to release advertisements. In a press conference held on November 22, 2023, with Patanjali’s CEO Balkrishnan, Yoga Guru Ramdev also claimed to ‘completely cure’ diabetes and asthma in these advertisements.
This press conference was held a day after the Supreme Court’s hearing. Justice Amanullah had stated on November 21, 2023, that – Patanjali must immediately stop all misleading advertisements. The court will take any violation very seriously and may impose fines up to 1 crore rupees for each false claim on production.
Controversies Surrounding Patanjali’s Covid Medicine Claims
Baba Ramdev had claimed that his products, Coronil and Swasari, could manage and cure Covid. After this claim, the Ministry of Health had cautioned the company and later halted its promotion to stop its promotion for promotion.
In 2015, before launching instant noodles, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) did not grant a license to the company. Subsequently, Patanjali had to face legal notices for violating food safety regulations.
In 2015, the Department of Canteen Stores also declared Patanjali’s juices unfit for consumption. Later, the CSD removed their juices from all its stores. In 2015 itself, people from Haridwar had complained about adulteration and impurities in Patanjali ghee.
In 2018, FSSAI also gave Patanjali a notice to change the manufacturing date of its medicinal product Giloy Ghanvati one month prior. Apart from Corona, controversies have surrounded Ramdev Baba’s yoga and Patanjali’s products, often claiming to cure cancer, AIDS, and homosexuality.
