Kerala Court Directs Patanjali Ayurved's Baba Ramdev And Managing Director To Appear Before It In Misleading Advertisements Case

The order was issued by Judicial First-Class Magistrate Court in Kozhikode.

The Drugs Inspector, Office of the Assistant Drugs Controller, Kozhikode filed a complaint in Kozhikode Court against Divya Pharmacy which markets the products of Patanjali. The case has been filed under Section 3 of The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. Section 3 prohibits the advertisement of certain drugs for the treatment of certain diseases and disorders.

The specific allegation was misleading advertisements were published claiming that “Divya Lipdom” tablet manufactured by Divya Pharmacy claimed to reduce abnormal levels of cholesterol and fat in the body and to improve fat metabolism. And, the product “Nutrella Diabetic Care” manufactured by Patanjali Ayurved claims to manage blood sugar levels and body weight. 

The complaint alleges violation of Section 3(b) and 3 (d) of The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act. Section 3 (b) prohibits advertisements of drugs claiming maintenance or improvement of the capacity of human beings for sexual pleasure. Section 3 (d) prohibits advertisements of drugs that claim the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of any disease, disorder or condition of diseases provided in the Rules made under the Act. 

specified in the Schedule, or any other disease, disorder or conditionRecently, Patanjali Ayurved products were under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court for publishing misleading advertisements against modern systems of medicines like Allopathy. The Court later issued a contempt notice to Patanjali Ayurved for continuing to publish such misleading advertisements that disparage allopathy and make false claims about curing certain diseases.