Baba Ramdev challenges FIRs against him over Allopathy remark in SC
Delhi: Seeking a stay on the proceedings in multiple cases lodged against him in various states over his alleged remarks on the efficacy of allopathy in the treatment of Covid-19, Yoga guru Ramdev on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court.
Ramdev has sought protection from coercive actions in FIRs lodged by Indian Medical Associations' (IMA) Patna and Raipur branches, and transfer of FIRs to Delhi. ANI reports that he has also sought clubbing and consolidation of FIRs and stay of the proceedings.
On June 16, police in Chhattisgarh's Raipur registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by Raipur's IMA unit against Ramdev for allegedly spreading "false" information about the medicines being used by the medical fraternity for the treatment of COVID-19.
Also Read: Chhattisgarh police files FIR against Baba Ramdev on State IMA complaint over Allopathy remark
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 the medical fraternity, Government of India, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and other frontline organisations in the treatment of COVID-19 infection.
The complaint said that there are several videos of Ramdev on social media in which he had allegedly made such misleading remarks.
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) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005.
The feud erupted after Ramdev was allegedly heard saying in a video, "Allopathy is a stupid science and medicines such as Remdesivir, Fabiflu, and other drugs approved by the Drugs Controller General of India have failed to treat COVID-19 patients."
His remarks caused massive outrage and the IMA sent over a legal notice to him.
Various medical associations and doctors' body had flayed him for belittling the sacrifice of more than 1200 doctors who have laid their lives (since the onset of COVID-19), taking Twitter by storm with hashtag #ArrestQuackRamdev trending with more than 19000 tweets. IMA cited a video of Ramdev which is viral on social media. In the video, Ramdev is allegedly heard saying, "Allopathy ek aisi stupid and diwaliya science hai." He also claimed that "lakhs of people have died after taking allopathic medicines" and that Remdesivir, Faviflu, and all other drugs approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) failed in treating Covid-19.
His commented initiated a massive controversy which was followed by war of words between IMA and Baba Ramdev eventually leading to FIR against him.
In response, Ramdev has now moved the apex court seeking protection from coercive actions in FIRs lodged by IMA
