Unveiling Patanjali's Deceptive Marketing Practices in the Healthcare Sector

Patanjali Ayurved, is an Indian global conglomerate corporation, was created in 2006 by Ramdev and Balkrishna. The company is well-known for producing a diverse line of Ayurvedic, herbal, and wellness supplements. Patanjali Ayurved has achieved great success in the consumer market, changing India’s consumer space and influencing the revenue of other FMCG companies.

The Supreme Court has taken a firm stance against Patanjali Ayurveda for continuing to run false advertising touting medicinal remedies, defying the court’s earlier decision, and violating the law. The court issued a contempt order against the corporation and its Managing Director, Acharya Balkrishna, requiring an explanation for their acts.

A panel of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah expressed concern, observing that Patanjali Ayurveda and its promoters organized press conferences and distributed false ads shortly after the court’s November 21 judgment. These advertisements promised to give permanent solutions for diabetes, obesity, blood pressure, and other conditions, which violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954.

Representatives of the Indian Medical Association, Senior Advocate P S Patwalia, and lawyer Prabhas Bajaj briefed the bench that the corporation staged a press conference the day following the court’s ruling, displaying illegal ads. They stressed that Patanjali Ayurveda and its proponents were criticizing the allopathic field of medicine, which should be prohibited.

During the last hearing, Patanjali’s lawyer, Sajan Poovayya, informed the court that the company would not publish such false advertising. However, since the corporation continued to make deceptive claims, the bench commented that it had taken not just the court but also the country for granted. The court deemed these actions as commercial propaganda that could not be tolerated.

Consequently, the Supreme Court issued an order prohibiting Patanjali Ayurveda from advertising its medicinal products until further notice and scheduled the next hearing for March 15. G S Sistani, a former Delhi High Court judge representing the company, requested three weeks to respond to the allegations raised by the Indian Medical Association.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources