Will Ramdev Go Behind The Bars?

Yogaguru Ramdev, who is often in the news due to misleading advertisements and controversial comments, has been personally summoned by the Supreme Court in the court. It is believed that the troubles of Ramdev, who sells his products by claiming permanent treatment of serious diseases, are going to increase. Ramdev’s attitude is also considered to be the major reason for this.

In fact, despite the strong rebuke of the apex court, he ignored notice which asked him the reason behind making such claims issued by it and did not even consider it necessary to reply. In response to this, the Supreme Court has ordered Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna to appear personally during the next hearing.

The trouble seems to be increasing for Yogaguru Ramdev, who is selling the products of his company Patanjali with the claims of permanent cure of serious diseases by making fun of the medical system prevalent all over the world. In this case, on the request of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the top court hearing the case has issued a notice to Acharya Balkrishna, Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurveda.

The notice raised serious questions on his attitude and warned of possible contempt proceedings. During this, the top court said that prima facie Balkrishna and Ramdev are violating Sections 3 and 4 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.

Ignoring court order became a problem!

In fact, on February 27, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court had passed orders to ban the misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurveda and Ramdev. Along with this, a show cause notice was issued seeking his reply regarding possible contempt action against him. But Ramdev ignored this order and did not consider it necessary to answer the court’s questions. Due to this on Tuesday (March 12), the bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah passed the order for Ramdev to appear personally in the next hearing.

The court’s direction comes after Patanjali Ayurveda was criticized for airing misleading advertisements on February 27. In these advertisements, it was claimed to treat medical conditions like BP, sugar (diabetes), fever, epilepsy and lupus.

In the last hearing, the Supreme Court had reprimanded the central government for alleged inaction on public health and safety matters, saying, ‘The entire country has been cheated.’ At that time, Patanjali was given a period of three weeks to respond to the court, explaining why no action should be taken against it.

Ignored the court’s warning

It is noteworthy here that in November 2023, the apex court had warned Patanjali Ayurveda that it could face a fine of up to Rs 1 crore per advertisement for misleading Ads. Along with this, Patanjali Ayurveda and its officials were also instructed not to issue statements criticizing any medical system in the media.

However, regardless of the order, Ramdev declared IMA a ‘gang’ of doctors who are conspiring to defame him. By organizing a press conference along with Balakrishna, Ramdev had indirectly raised questions on the court’s order.

Ramdev had said that a gang of doctors is spreading propaganda against yoga and naturopathy. He also claimed that he controls or cures diseases through evidence based treatment system. He also presented many such young men and women and claimed that he had completely cured their diabetes and thyroid disease. Also alleged that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the entire modern medical system are lying.

IMA’s objection became heavy

Despite the order of the Supreme Court, Ramdev continued the series of misleading advertisements at the same pace. Against which the Indian Medical Association (IMA) once again moved the court. While hearing the case, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah said that despite the court order, the series of misleading advertisements is continuing, along with which objectionable comments are being made against other medical systems.

The bench said that you are forcing the court. Also, while immediately banning the telecast of all the misleading advertisements of Patanjali, he said that if you have courage then you should show it by disobeying this order.

Patanjali has been in the dock regarding products

In the year 2022, the Food Safety Department of the Government of Uttarakhand had tested the sample of cow ghee, in which it was found that it was adulterated and harmful for health. The Ayurvedic and Unani Department of the Uttarakhand government had also banned the production of some medicines of Patanjali like BPgrit, Madhugrit, Thyrogrit and iGrit Gold etc.

Later the company got this ban removed by giving information about the revised formulation. During the Covid pandemic in the year 2021, Patanjali had made misleading claims through ‘Coronil’ claiming to cure Corona in seven days. But after the strictness of AYUSH department, it had to be sold in the name of immune booster.

Who is Ramdev?

Ram Kishan Yadav, who started the campaign to create awareness in the society through yoga about two decades ago, became famous by the name of Baba Ramdev in a few years. When his name grew, he started the Bharat Swabhiman Movement to protest against black money and corruption, in connection with which serious allegations were also made regarding the mysterious death of Rajiv Dixit. After this, Ramdev started a company of Ayurvedic products in the name of Patanjali and made deep inroads in the Indian market by adding the flavor of Swadeshi.

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