Delhi court rejects plea against Ramdev

A Delhi court dismissed a plea seeking an FIR against yoga guru Ramdev for allegedly cheating people by claiming to have found a cure for covid-19, saying a case of similar nature has already been filed in Rajasthan.

New Delhi: A local court has rejected a plea seeking direction to Delhi Police to register an FIR against yoga guru Ramdev for allegedly cheating people by falsely claiming that his firm Patanjali has found a cure for COVID-19, noting one case has already been registered elsewhere.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Anand observed that the content of the application was similar to one based on which an FIR has already been lodged in Jaipur.

The order was passed after the Delhi police filed a status report stating that an FIR has already been lodged under Section 420 (cheating) of IPC at Police Station Jyoti Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan on a similar plea.It further said that AYUSH Ministry had allowed the sale of ''Coronil'' as an immunity booster and in case of any grievance, the Complainant should approach the Ministry.

"The press conference during which ''Coronil'' was launched was held at Haridwar, Uttrakhand which was beyond the jurisdiction was Delhi Police," the police told the court.

Taking note of police submission, the judge said that "once there is already an FIR registered with respect to a cause of action, as raised by the complainant herein, which is under investigation, there is no occasion for this court to order registration of another FIR on the same cause of action, which will have the effect of registration of multiple FIRs against the same accused for the same cause of action in different states."

The application, filed by advocate Tushar Anand, claimed that Ramdev and other persons "only had permission to make/produce an immunity booster and they are falsely representing/making a false claim in the media that they have found a cure for COVID-19".

On June 23, Patanjali Ayurved launched 'Coronil' tablet and Swasari Vati medicine with the claim that these could cure Covid-19 within seven days. On July 1, the Ayush Ministry permitted Patanjali to sell Coronil as long as it was advertised as an immunity booster, and not a 'coronavirus cure'.