Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, known for his entrepreneurial ventures and promotion of yoga, has approached the Supreme Court of India seeking protection against the criminal First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against him in multiple states. These FIRs were filed following his controversial comments regarding the effectiveness of evidence-based medicines in treating Covid-19.
Ramdev’s plea, filed through his counsel, requests the consolidation of FIRs and the transfer of these cases to Delhi. Additionally, he seeks to suspend the proceedings in the various cases filed against him and protection from coercive actions related to the FIRs filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) branches in Patna and Raipur.
In defense of Ramdev, his counsel argues that he is a public figure and expressed his opinions during a private event. They emphasize that the yoga guru harbors no ill-will towards doctors and asserts his right to express his viewpoint on the effectiveness of different medical approaches.
The FIRs filed against Ramdev are based on sections including disobedience to a public servant’s order, negligent acts likely to spread dangerous diseases, and intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of the peace, among others, of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
The controversy erupted when a video emerged showing Ramdev allegedly disparaging modern medicines, claiming that drugs such as Remdesivir and Fabiflu, which have been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India, had failed to treat Covid-19 patients. In the video, he stated that allopathy, the branch of medicine embraced by medical professionals worldwide, is a stupid science and made claims about the death toll caused by allopathic medicines.
These comments sparked outrage, leading the IMA to issue a legal notice to Ramdev. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against him in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, based on a complaint filed by the local IMA unit. The complaint alleges that Ramdev spread false information and made threatening statements on social media about medicines used in the treatment of Covid-19 by the medical community, the Indian government, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and other frontline organizations.
Ramdev’s controversial comments have garnered attention from various sectors, and the plea filed in the Supreme Court seeks legal protection amidst the ongoing backlash. The court has issued notices to the central government and the IMA, indicating that the matter will be examined and considered further by the judiciary.
This development highlights the importance of balancing freedom of speech and expression with responsible communication, especially during a public health crisis. With the Supreme Court set to deliberate on the matter, the outcome of Ramdev’s plea could potentially have implications for issues surrounding medical misinformation, public figures, and the accountability of statements made by influential individuals in the future.
