The Supreme Court on Friday granted two weeks time to the state of Bihar and Chhattisgarh to inform it about the status regarding the FIRs and chargesheet filed against Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev’s remark on Allopathy. The court observed that the petition was filed in 2021 and that the chargesheet would have been filed.
The apex court was hearing Ramdev’s plea to combine multiple FIRs filed against him in several states over his alleged remarks that Allopathy cannot cure COVID. The court asked Senior Advocate Sidharath Dave, appearing for Ramdev, to implead the complainants in the instant case. Subsequently, the court scheduled the matter after vacations. The matter was mentioned before Justice MM Sundresh and Justice SVM Bhatti.
The First Information Reports (FIR) against Baba Ramdev were registered in Bihar and Chhattisgarh based on complaints by the Indian Medical Association. Notably, the Patna and Raipur chapters of IMA also filed complaints against Ramdev alleging that his comments are likely to cause prejudice to COVID control, as the misinformation spread by him in a position of influence can dissuade people from availing proper treatment against the pandemic.
Notably, the top court in this petition had also asked Yoga Guru Ramdev to produce the video and transcripts of his statements on the Allopathy cure for COVID. In the writ petition filed under Article 32, the Yoga Guru has sought clubbing and the consolidation of FIRs and their transfer to Delhi. He has also sought a stay on the investigation in the FIRs as an interim relief.
The aforesaid FIRs mentioned offences under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and other provisions of Disaster Management Act 2005.
Additionally, he is also facing contempt proceedings initiated by the Supreme Court for publishing misleading medical advertisements in breach of an undertaking given by Patanjali Ayurved to the top court.