Shark Tank India calls out fake doctor for misleading skincare claims

New Delhi: A naturopath and aromatherapist who used the title 'doctor' on social media was publicly called out and exposed on Shark Tank India a few days ago after judges questioned his medical credentials. The controversy erupted when it was revealed that he had built a large Instagram following by making bold hair and skincare claims that were neither authentic nor scientifically proven.

The entrepreneur, Manoj Das, who appeared on the show seeking Rs 1 crore for 1% equity, faced sharp criticism from the sharks, who labelled him a "fraud" for misleading people with unscientific and exaggerated health claims.

Soon after the episode aired and clips went viral on social media, Manoj Das removed the "Dr" prefix from his Instagram profile. He also reportedly deleted his social media accounts amid the massive backlash.

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Manoj Das, who describes himself as a naturopath and aromatherapist, runs a brand called Lewisia Wellness and has over 6 lakh followers on Instagram. The banner on its official website reads, "India's #1 choice for natural skincare, haircare, and health care products."

His social media pages were filled with videos claiming to cure baldness, deliver “glass skin” using glycerine, and even treat multiple diseases. According to medical experts, these claims are often misleading and dangerous.

During the show, Anupam Mittal asked Manoj Das to showcase his content to the rest of the judges. After doing so, he questioned Das on whether he was actually a medical practitioner. In response, Das replied that since he was an aromatherapist, he could be called a doctor. The response angered the judges, who called him 'fraud'.

Next, Kunal Bahl, co-founder of Snapdeal, asked if Das sold any of his products in the marketplace. He agreed and showed him the brand's page on Amazon. He even played a video in which he claimed to cure any disease that the customer was suffering from.

Getting irked by this, the sharks pointed out that no genuine doctor in the world promises 100% results for any treatment, especially for serious illnesses. They said that it was nothing but a misleading video from someone who does not even know how many diseases there are in the world, and how many people across the globe might be battling critical ailments.

As per an NDTV media report, Mohit Yadav, co-founder of Minimalist, said that Manoj Das made clickbait content by studying the insecurities of people. He was claiming to correct issues that his followers were insecure about, and his products were not at all science-backed.

Namita Thapar, Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, even flagged that his products contained harmful chemicals like parabens. She not only called Manoj Das's practice "unethical", but she also urged him to do some soul searching and see if he would like to continue going ahead on the same path.

After the episode was released on YouTube, several medical professionals and viewers questioned the authenticity of Das’s qualifications and the source of his income from the wellness products he promoted.

AIIMS-trained neurologist Dr Rahul Chawla called Manoj Das a “quack doctor” in a social media post, as reported by Moneycontrol. He urged people to verify the degrees of health influencers they follow.

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