Kerala Court Issues Arrest Warrant Against Patanjali For Misleading Health Claims In Ads. When Will They Stop?
A Kerala court has issued bailable arrest warrants against Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna's Patanjali Ayurved!
A Kerala court has issued bailable arrest warrants against Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna, and Divya Pharmacy, a subsidiary of Patanjali Ayurved, for allegedly publishing misleading advertisements. The warrants were issued by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court II in Palakkad on January 16 after the accused failed to appear in court despite being summoned.
Patanjali Recieves Arrest Warrant
The case pertains to advertisements released by Divya Pharmacy that allegedly made unverified claims about curing diseases and undermined modern medical practices, including allopathy. These actions are said to violate the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954, which prohibits false or exaggerated claims in healthcare promotions.
This is not the first time Patanjali and its founders have faced legal scrutiny over their advertisements. Similar allegations are being heard in another case at a court in Kozhikode. Over the years, the company has been accused of spreading misinformation through its marketing campaigns, leading to national debates about the regulation of healthcare claims.
In a related controversy, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had filed a plea against Patanjali in the Supreme Court, which temporarily banned the company’s advertisements and issued contempt notices for misleading the public. As part of the resolution, Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna had to issue public apologies and publish corrections in newspapers. Despite these actions, criticism was also directed at the Central government for its perceived leniency in enforcing the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules of 1945.
Although the Supreme Court closed its contempt case in 2024, legal battles for Patanjali have persisted. The latest hearing in the Palakkad court has been scheduled for February 1. The ongoing controversies highlight the growing demand for stricter oversight of health-related advertising in India. As Patanjali continues to face legal challenges, questions about the responsibility of businesses in ensuring accurate claims and the role of regulatory bodies remain unresolved.
First Published: January 21, 2025 1:27 PM
