The Supreme Court on Tuesday was informed that the Chhattisgarh Police has filed a closure report in the case against yoga guru Ramdev, stemming from his controversial remarks about allopathic medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The development was brought before Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the government.
Government Alleges Complaints Were Sponsored
Mr. Mehta submitted that the complaints against Ramdev seemed to be “sponsored by some interested groups,” implying that certain organizations or individuals may have pushed the allegations for motives other than public welfare.
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Ramdev, told the court that while the Chhattisgarh government had filed its report as directed, the Bihar government had not yet submitted its response. Following this, the bench adjourned the matter to December for further hearings.
IMA & DMA Allege Public Health Harm
The case traces back to 2021, when complaints were filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) chapters in Patna and Raipur. The associations claimed Ramdev’s remarks could undermine COVID treatment efforts and prevent people from seeking proper medical care.
Additionally, the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) sought to join the case, accusing Ramdev of spreading misinformation and encouraging people to neglect vaccines and treatment guidelines. The DMA, representing around 15,000 doctors, also alleged that Ramdev’s company Patanjali profited over ₹1,000 crore by marketing Coronil kits, which lacked official regulatory approval.
Ramdev’s Defense
Ramdev’s counsel argued that his client’s remarks—stating that he “does not believe in allopathic medicines”—were taken out of context and deliberately misrepresented. Advocate Dave submitted that the accusations were “false and fabricated” and that the only link to his client was through statements made by co-accused, which were inadmissible.
He further pointed out that the issued Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) was against a different person, Vinay Pandit, whereas the current accused is Narayan Upadhyay, suggesting a case of mistaken identity or deliberate targeting.
Ramdev requested interim protection by seeking a stay on criminal investigations, arguing that the proceedings were based on politically motivated complaints rather than genuine harm.
A Nationwide Debate Over Medical Systems
The controversy over Ramdev’s statements ignited a national debate between supporters of Allopathy and Ayurveda, India’s two major medical systems.
Under pressure, Ramdev withdrew his comments after receiving a letter from Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who termed the remarks “inappropriate.”
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