The Supreme Court was informed that Chhattisgarh authorities have filed a closure report in connection with an FIR against yoga guru and Patanjali founder Swami Ram Dev over his controversial remarks on allopathic medicines during the Covid-19 pandemic. The bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma was apprised of the development by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Ram Dev, requested that the update be reflected in the Court’s order.
The bench, however, declined, observing that Ram Dev’s plea for clubbing of FIRs was not maintainable as only the FIR in Bihar remains pending. Dave raised concerns that the matter might be reopened if a protest petition is filed, urging the Court to first verify the status of the Bihar FIR. The SG noted that the FIRs in both states appeared to have been filed by “sponsored ” parties. The Court adjourned the matter for further hearing.
The controversy arose from Ram Dev’s statements criticizing allopathic medicine, which went viral during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the video, he claimed that thousands had died after taking allopathic treatments for Covid-19. While he later withdrew his statements, multiple FIRs were lodged, triggering legal action. Ram Dev approached the Apex Court seeking quashing of the FIRs and protection from coercive proceedings, alleging that the complaints were politically or personally motivated.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave argued that the FIRs were baseless and urged the Court to club them for judicial efficiency. He also expressed apprehension that proceedings in Bihar could be revived through a protest petition, emphasizing the need to confirm the FIR’s status before disposal.
The bench noted that only one FIR, Bihar, remains pending and that the plea for clubbing of FIRs cannot survive in the current scenario. The SG’s remarks that the FIRs were “obviously filed by sponsored persons” were also recorded. While no final orders were passed, the Court highlighted the procedural importance of verifying pending matters before disposal.
The matter was adjourned, with further proceedings to follow once the status of the Bihar FIR is ascertained.
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