The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken major action against Baba Ramdev’s Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali products as part of a statewide campaign against misleading advertisements and false labels. The FDA has seized stock worth over ₹7.3 million, including Patanjali products, for violating regulations and making false claims of curing incurable diseases.
In the FDA’s major action against Baba Ramdev’s Divya Pharmacy, the Maharashtra FDA conducted raids in Nagpur, Chandrapur, and other cities and seized suspicious and misbranded Ayurvedic medicines manufactured by Divya Pharmacy worth approximately ₹5.1 million. The FDA has issued a notice to Patanjali Foods under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act for allegedly making misleading and exaggerated claims in the promotion of “Karela Jamun Juice.”
Baba Ramdev’s Divya Pharmacy has taken the matter to the Bombay High Court, requesting its intervention. Patanjali and Divya Pharmacy challenged the Maharashtra FDA’s raids and actions in the Bombay High Court, following which the court granted an interim stay on further raids.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized Patanjali’s Divya Pharmacy products under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. The labels and packaging of these Patanjali Ayurvedic medicines made misleading claims of complete cures for serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. This law prohibits advertisements claiming magical or 100% cures for such ailments. Patanjali products worth approximately ₹51.41 lakh were seized during the statewide raids. The seized products primarily included medicines such as Drishti Eye Drop, Giloy Ghan Vati, Madhugrit, and Cystogrit Diamond.
Following this action, Patanjali approached the Bombay High Court. The Maharashtra government has subsequently assured the court that no further seizures or raids will be conducted until the central government formulates a nationwide policy regarding the labeling and advertising of Ayurvedic products.