Patanjali Ayurved’s founders, Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, have filed an application with a trial court in Kerala, requesting that a non-bailable warrant of arrest issued against them be recalled. The warrant was issued due to their failure to attend a court hearing scheduled earlier this month in a case related to a misleading advertisement by Patanjali. The case, “Drug Inspector, Palakkad v. M/s Divya Pharmacy”, was filed against Patanjali for allegedly making false claims about their products.
The warrant was issued by the court after Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna failed to appear before it on the scheduled date. The court had summoned them to answer charges of misleading advertising, which is a violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. The Act prohibits the advertisement of drugs and medicines that are not approved by the government or that make false claims about their efficacy.
Patanjali has been facing several legal issues in recent years, including cases related to alleged trademark infringement, copyright violation, and misleading advertising. The company has been accused of making false claims about its products, including claims that they can cure diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
The recall of the non-bailable warrant of arrest would allow Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna to avoid arrest and continue to manage their business. However, the court may still impose other penalties, such as fines or imprisonment, if they are found guilty of the charges against them.
The case highlights the importance of regulatory oversight in the healthcare industry, particularly in the case of alternative medicine and wellness products. The Indian government has been cracking down on companies that make false claims about their products, and Patanjali has been a prominent target of these efforts. The outcome of this case will have implications not only for Patanjali but also for the broader industry of alternative medicine and wellness products in India.