The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and the Kerala Drugs Control department are inquiring into the alleged illegal advertisements placed by Patanjali Yogpeeth-owned Divya Pharmacy in a major Malayalam newspaper earlier this year.
Divya Pharmacy is the marketing arm of Patanjali Ayurved. The ads on Divya Lipidom tablets and Patanjali Nutrela powder were carried in the newspaper on February 21.
V. Jaya, Deputy Drugs Controller (Ayurveda), who is also the State Drug Licensing Authority for the traditional system of Indian medicine, has directed drug inspectors to conduct an inquiry to find out if the advertisement in the Kozhikode edition had violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. The drug inspector, Kozhikode, has also written to the Chief Editor of the newspaper seeking details about the advertisement. The Deputy Drugs Controller is also expecting reports on this from its zonal offices across the State.
