Arrest warrant issued against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna over misleading Ads

Palakkad: A Kerala court has issued a bailable arrest warrant against Baba Ramdev and his associate Acharya Balakrishna, following a complaint filed by the state's drug regulators against Patanjali Ayurved owned by them. The complaint concerns allegedly misleading advertisements regarding Patanjali's healthcare products.  

The Palakkad Judicial First Class Magistrate II Court, on Thursday, issued the warrant, marking the first time a summons has been issued to Ramdev based on an arrest warrant since the complaint was first lodged nearly three years ago. The complaint, made by a Kerala doctor, led to multiple cases in Kerala and one in Uttarakhand.  

The case status, as of January 16, 2025, recorded by the Palakkad court, read: “Complainant absent. All accused served. Bailable warrant to all accused.”  

Background of the case  

The controversy began in April 2022 when K V Babu, an ophthalmologist from Kannur, filed a complaint regarding Patanjali’s allegedly misleading advertisements. The ads in question claimed that certain Patanjali products could cure conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, which are prohibited under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.  

The Kerala Drug Control Department, acting on multiple complaints filed by Babu, began legal proceedings against Patanjali in November 2023 for violating the DMR Act. After this, Babu also filed complaints with central authorities and the Prime Minister’s Office.

These actions eventually led to Uttarakhand authorities taking up the case, with the Haridwar District Court summoning Ramdev and his associates for hearings in April, 2024.  

Despite these developments, Patanjali has not responded to media queries regarding the arrest warrant issued by the Palakkad court.  

Multiple legal cases across Kerala  

In addition to the legal action initiated in Palakkad, Kerala's drug regulators have filed several petitions against Patanjali in various courts, including Kochi, Kozhikode, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram. These cases are being pursued under the direction of the

Kerala drug regulatory authority following complaints from Babu.  

Supreme Court intervention  

The issue gained national attention when the Supreme Court intervened. On January 15, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a warning to states and Union Territories, threatening contempt action if they failed to take action against misleading advertisements. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, assisting the court as amicus curiae, pointed out that many states were not complying with the law.  

The apex court also criticised states for not prosecuting those violating the 1954 DMR Act, despite complaints being lodged. It reiterated its earlier directive for the Union Ministry for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy to set up a dashboard to provide consumers with information on misleading advertisement complaints and their progress.  

Patanjali’s response  

Despite the mounting legal pressure, Patanjali Ayurved has not provided a response to the latest legal developments. The company, which was founded in 2006 by Ramdev and Balakrishna, has been under scrutiny for its advertising practices since 2022.

(with PTI inputs)