The Judicial First Class Magistrate II Court in Palakkad has issued bailable warrants against Patanjali Ayurved co-founders Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna for failing to appear despite prior orders. The warrants, issued on January 16, are linked to allegations of publishing misleading advertisements through Divya Pharmacy, an affiliate of Patanjali Ayurved.
The case accuses the company of violating provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 by releasing ads that allegedly disparage modern medicine, including allopathy, and make unsubstantiated claims of curing diseases.
This is not an isolated case. Similar criminal proceedings are ongoing in other courts across Kerala, including one before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Kozhikode.
Supreme Court’s Intervention in Patanjali’s Ads
The controversy surrounding Patanjali’s advertisements previously reached the Supreme Court, with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) filing a plea against the company for misleading claims. The apex court, while hearing the matter, temporarily banned the advertisements and issued contempt of court notices to Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna.
In sharp criticism, the Supreme Court remarked, “Patanjali has been taking the country for a ride by falsely claiming that its medicines cure certain diseases despite there being no empirical evidence for the same.”
Following these developments, Ramdev and Balkrishna appeared before the Supreme Court, tendered apologies, and were directed to publish public apologies in newspapers. The apex court also admonished the Central government for its inaction, saying, “Why has the Centre not invoked the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules of 1945 against Patanjali?”
Recent Developments
The contempt case was eventually closed by the Supreme Court in August 2024 after the apologies were issued. However, Patanjali and its founders continue to face legal challenges at the state level, such as the ongoing cases in Kerala.
This latest warrant adds to the scrutiny surrounding Patanjali’s advertising practices, bringing into focus the responsibility of consumer brands in ensuring truthful and evidence-based claims.
