Kerala court issues non-bailable warrants against Baba Ramdev, Balakrishna
text_fields
Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Chairman Acharya Balkrishna.
New Delhi: A Kerala court on February 1 issued non-bailable warrants against Baba Ramdev and his associate Acharya Balakrishna after they failed to appear for a hearing in a criminal case filed by the Kerala Drugs Inspector. The case involves allegations against Divya Pharmacy, a unit of Patanjali Ayurved, for misleading medical advertisements.
The Judicial First Class Magistrate-II Court in Palakkad had previously issued bailable warrants, instructing Ramdev and Balakrishna to appear on February 1. However, their absence led to the issuance of non-bailable warrants to ensure their appearance at the next hearing on February 15, reported LiveLaw.
The Kerala Drugs Inspector filed the complaint under various sections of The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, particularly Section 3, which prohibits advertisements promoting certain drugs for the treatment of specified diseases and disorders.
In this case, Divya Pharmacy is the first accused, Balakrishna the second, and Ramdev the third. The advertisements in question claimed that specific Patanjali products could cure ailments like high blood pressure and diabetes, which fall under prohibited claims according to the DMR Act.