Justice VG Arun issued the interim stay while considering seven criminal miscellaneous petitions submitted by the accused. The court noted that the matter raises complex legal questions that deserve detailed judicial scrutiny.
Published Jul 14, 2025 | 2:05 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 14, 2025 | 2:05 PM
Baba Ramdev.
Synopsis: The Kerala High Court stayed further proceedings in criminal cases filed under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act against Baba Ramdev, Patanjali Ayurved Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna, and Divya Pharmacy.
The Kerala High Court stayed further proceedings in seven criminal cases filed against yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Patanjali Ayurved Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna, and Divya Pharmacy.
The cases were registered under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, alleging the promotion of misleading medical advertisements.
Justice VG Arun issued the interim stay while considering seven criminal miscellaneous petitions submitted by the accused. The court noted that the matter raises complex legal questions that deserve detailed judicial scrutiny.
In light of these intricacies, the court directed the Public Prosecutor to obtain necessary instructions before any further steps are taken in the proceedings.
In February, the Judicial First Class Magistrate II in the Palakkad district had issued non-bailable warrants to Patanjali Ayurved founders Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna in connection with a case alleging violations of drug advertisement laws through misleading claims of miraculous benefits.
It was issued after they failed to appear before the court on the same day, even after it had issued a bailable warrant asking them to appear before it.
The case, filed by the Kerala drugs inspector, accuses Divya Pharmacy of promoting false claims about Patanjali products curing high blood pressure and diabetes, violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
Sources say similar cases are ongoing in Kozhikode and Haridwar, Uttarakhand, with multiple summons issued, but neither Ramdev nor Balakrishna has appeared in court for any of them.
In Kerala, 10 cases are pending across various districts.
Divya Pharmacy, associated with Ramdev, has been a major player in the Indian Ayurvedic market, known for its diverse range of natural and organic health products.
Dr KV Babu, through an RTI, found that the department had found around 29 instances where the company’s advertisements purportedly breached the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954. This Act is a critical piece of legislation in India, aimed at protecting consumers from misleading claims, particularly in health and wellness advertisements.
The advertisements for Patanjali products purportedly stated that their evidence-based Ayurvedic medicines could “cure” a range of illnesses, including high blood pressure and diabetes.
“In response to my complaints, the department has initiated legal action against these advertisements. They could be the same product in multiple ads or different products as well. The department has directed its subsidiary offices throughout Kerala to accelerate their investigations and proceed with filing charges in court,” Dr Babu told South First earlier.
The decision by the Kerala Drugs Control Department to prosecute is seen as a bold move, given the prominence of the company involved and the potential implications for the Ayurvedic industry at large.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
