The licensing authority in Uttarakhand has reportedly suspended the manufacturing permits for 14 products produced by Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali’s Divya Pharmacy due to the repeated dissemination of misleading advertisements regarding their effectiveness.
Additionally, a criminal complaint has allegedly been lodged against Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna, and Patanjali for breaching the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.
This ruling represents another setback for Ramdev, whose television shows, yoga treatments, and traditional medicinal offerings have garnered him significant popularity.
In recent weeks, the Supreme Court of India has rebuked Ramdev multiple times for failing to comply with its directives in an ongoing lawsuit aimed at halting the dissemination of misleading advertisements for some of his traditional Ayurvedic medicines. The manufacturing permits for Ramdev’s companies were suspended in an order dated April 15 by the traditional medicine drug regulator in Uttarakhand. However, the specifics of the order have not been made public yet, according to Reuters.
The manufacturing permits have been “suspended with immediate effect,” as stated in the order issued by Mithilesh Kumar of the state regulator.
The case against Ramdev in the Supreme Court stems from allegations by the Indian Medical Association that his company, Patanjali Ayurved, disparages conventional medicines and continues to publish misleading ads despite a court order to cease.
Ramdev has acknowledged his wrongdoing and his company has issued newspaper advertisements apologizing to the public. In recent weeks, he has appeared before the judges of the Supreme Court clad in his signature saffron-colored robe, seeking forgiveness. However, the judges have thus far not accepted his apology, and they are deliberating whether to pursue contempt charges against Ramdev.