In October 2024, a criminal complaint was filed by a drug inspector in Palakkad against Patanjali, a wellness company, and its founders Ramdev and Balkrishna. The complaint alleged that Patanjali’s publication of a medical advertisement in the Mathrubhumi newspaper on September 30, 2023, was misleading and violated the Indian government’s regulations on prohibited advertisements.
The advertisement in question was for Patanjali’s product, “Mukta Vati Extra Power”, which was allegedly misclassified and could fall under the definition of a “prohibited advertisement” under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954. Under this act, there are strict guidelines on what types of advertisements are allowed to be published, and Patanjali’s advertisement allegedly fell outside of these guidelines.
As a result, Patanjali, Ramdev, and Balkrishna have appealed to the high court, arguing that the drug inspector’s actions violate the limitation period, which is the time frame within which legal proceedings can be initiated. The exact grounds for their appeal are not specified in the provided information, but it is likely that they are claiming that the criminal complaint was filed too late to be considered legally valid.
It is worth noting that this is not the first legal dispute that Patanjali has faced. The company has been accused of making false claims about its products and violating regulatory guidelines in the past. This latest development further adds to the scrutiny and criticism that Patanjali has faced in recent years.