Legal Troubles Mount For Baba Ramdev And Patanjali: Kerala Court Issues Arrest Warrant Over 'Misleading' Health Claims In Advertisements

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his Patanjali empire have found themselves in legal trouble in Kerala, as a Judicial First Class Magistrate II in Palakkad issued a bailable arrest warrant against Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna, and Divya Pharmacy—the marketing arm of Patanjali Ayurved.

The warrant was issued after the trio failed to appear in court on 16 January, marking the first such warrant in Kerala amid ongoing legal disputes over misleading advertising claims.

The case, which was registered in October 2024, accuses Patanjali of promoting healthcare products with unsubstantiated claims.

The advertisements allegedly promised cures for conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which violate the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954.

Despite receiving summons from the court, none of the accused attended the January hearing, leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant. The case is now set to be heard on 1 February.

In total, at least 10 cases have been filed against Patanjali in Kerala alone, with multiple instances of non-appearance by the accused.

The court's decision follows a stern warning from the Supreme Court on 15 January, which urged states and union territories to take stronger action against individuals and companies promoting misleading medical claims.

Justices Abhay Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan stressed the importance of enforcing laws such as the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and the Consumer Protection Act.

Patanjali, a household name in India, has faced criticism for its health claims despite its success in marketing Ayurvedic products.