FIR against yoga guru Ramdev for spreading 'false information' on allopathy in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: In more trouble for noted yoga guru Ramdev, the Chhattisgarh Police has registered an FIR against him for allegedly spreading "false" information about the medicines being used by the medical fraternity for the treatment of COVID-19.

According to reports, the FIR was registered against the yoga guru in Raipur. “The case was filed on Wednesday night against Baba Ramdev based on a complaint filed by the Chhattisgarh's unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA),” Raipur's Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav said.

"Ramdev has been booked 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 others of the IPC and provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005," he said.

Further investigation into the matter is underway, the officer added. 

Chairman of Hospital Board IMA (CG) Dr Rakesh Gupta, IMA's Raipur President and Vikas Agrawal were among the doctors who had earlier lodged the complaint. As per the complaint, since over the last one year, Ramdev has been allegedly propagating false information and his threatening statements on social media against medicines being used by medical fraternity, Government of India, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other frontline organisations in the treatment of coronavirus infection.

There are several videos of him on social media in which he had allegedly made such misleading remarks, it said. At a time when doctors, paramedical staff and all branches of government and administration have been together battling COVID-19, Ramdev has been allegedly misleading people about established and approved treatment methods, the complaint said.

Ramdev's remarks on modern medical facilities and allopathy medicines, which have been curing over 90 percent of the patients, would put the lives of people in danger, it alleged. "During the investigation of the complaint, it was found that his statements amount to a violation of the notification of the Chhattisgarh government dated March 13 last year," the official said.

The notification states that no person/institution/organisation will use any print or electronic media for information regarding COVID-19 without prior permission of the state's Health Department. This is to avoid the spread of any rumour or unauthenticated information regarding COVID-19. 

Swami Ramdev had recently landed in trouble for calling "allopathy a stupid science" following which the Indian Medical Association had filed a Rs 10 crore defamation suit against him. At the peak of the controversy, Baba Ramdev said that he was misquoted and tendered an unconditional apology for his remarks.