PATANJALI SCAMS

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Based on available information, including allegations, controversies, and reported incidents associated with Patanjali, drawing from legal cases, news reports, and public criticisms, GROK3 AI APP created a list that includes specific claims and broader issues raised about the company, its products, and its practices. Note that not all of these are proven "scams" in a legal sense—some are allegations, regulatory violations, or consumer complaints that have surfaced over time.

List of Alleged Scams, Controversies, and Issues Related to Patanjali

1. Misleading Coronil Claims: Patanjali falsely advertised Coronil as a "cure" for COVID-19 during the pandemic, despite lacking scientific evidence, leading to regulatory action in 2020.

2. Supreme Court Contempt Case (2024): Patanjali continued publishing misleading ads despite court orders to stop, prompting contempt proceedings against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna.

3. Amla Juice Quality Failure (2017): An RTI revealed Patanjali’s Divya Amla Juice failed quality tests, with pH levels below the prescribed limit.

4. Shivlingi Beej Contamination: Lab tests in 2017 found 31.68% foreign matter in Patanjali’s Shivlingi Beej, failing quality standards.

5. Fake Websites (2022): Ten scam websites used Patanjali’s name and images of Baba Ramdev to dupe people seeking treatment at Patanjali Yog Gram.

6. False Treatment Booking Scam (2023): Two individuals were arrested for creating fake Patanjali Yogpeeth websites, scamming patients out of lakhs, including a reported ₹16 lakh fraud in 15 days.

7. Cyber Fraud Impersonation (2025): A user on X reported losing ₹35,000 to fraudsters posing as Patanjali representatives, providing fake booking letterheads.

8. Misleading Ads Fine Warning (2024): The Supreme Court threatened a ₹1 crore fine per product for false claims about curing specific diseases.

9. Non-Vegetarian Toothpaste Allegation (2024): A plea in Delhi High Court alleged Patanjali’s Divya Manjan contained non-vegetarian ingredients, misleading consumers with a green dot label.

10. Honey Adulteration (2020): The Centre for Science and Environment found Patanjali honey adulterated with sugar syrups, failing purity tests in NMR analysis.

11. Cow Ghee Misrepresentation: Former CEO SK Patra claimed Patanjali’s “cow ghee” was made from mixed animal milk, not solely cow milk, contradicting its branding.

12. Substandard Ayurveda Products: An RTI showed 40% of Patanjali’s Ayurvedic products tested between 2013-2016 were substandard.

13. Canteen Stores Suspension (2017): The armed forces’ Canteen Stores Department suspended Patanjali Amla Juice sales after it failed quality tests.

14. Fake Appointment Letters: Patanjali warned of third parties issuing fraudulent job appointment letters for money, damaging its reputation.

15. Counterfeit Product Sales: Fraudsters sold fake Patanjali goods, exploiting the brand’s popularity, as noted in the company’s caution notice.

16. Misleading Diabetes Cure Claims: Patanjali advertised products like biscuits as cures for diabetes, lacking scientific backing.

17. Edible Oil in Coconut Oil: Patanjali’s coconut oil reportedly contained unspecified “edible vegetable oil” (likely palm oil), misleading consumers about purity.

18. Fake Distributor Offers: Scammers posed as Patanjali distributors, collecting payments via fake websites, as warned by the company.

19. Land Grab Allegations (Haryana): Patanjali was accused of acquiring disputed Aravalli hill land through shell companies with zero revenue.

20. Ruchi Soya Acquisition Concerns: Critics questioned how Patanjali acquired debt-ridden Ruchi Soya with public bank loans, allegedly with favorable treatment.

21. Pollution Violations: Allegations surfaced that Patanjali factories released pollutants into rivers, though specifics remain unverified.

22. Divya Putrajeevak Controversy: Patanjali marketed this product as aiding male child conception, raising ethical and legal concerns.

23. Misleading Immunity Claims: Ramdev tweeted unproven claims that yoga and Patanjali products could prevent coronavirus, criticized by health experts.

24. Ghee Factory Bust (2023): Delhi police busted a fake ghee factory using Patanjali labels, showing brand misuse by third parties.

25. Allopathy Smear Campaign (2022): The Indian Medical Association sued Patanjali over Ramdev’s alleged smear campaign against modern medicine.

26. False Booking Scams (2022): Three individuals were arrested for running 20 fake Patanjali Yog Gram websites, duping victims of ₹2.4 lakh in one case.

27. Unauthorized Product Claims: Patanjali’s ads claimed cures for ailments without approval under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

28. Ashwagandha COVID Claim (2020): Ramdev claimed Ashwagandha prevented coronavirus protein blending, lacking evidence.

29. Misleading Ad Size Dispute (2024): The Supreme Court questioned if Patanjali’s apology matched the size of its misleading ads.

30. Perjury Warning (2024): The Supreme Court accused Ramdev and Balkrishna of perjury for submitting backdated documents in the misleading ads case.

Broader Patterns and Allegations

Repeated Misleading Ads: Patanjali faced multiple accusations of false advertising across its product line (e.g., soaps, shampoos, noodles), often touting unverified health benefits. Specific instances are numerous but not individually detailed in sources beyond the above examples.

Quality Control Issues: Reports suggest recurring substandard quality in products like biscuits, oils, and herbal medicines, though exact cases beyond Amla Juice and Shivlingi Beej are less documented.

Third-Party Fraud: Numerous scams involved fake websites, call centers, and counterfeit goods using Patanjali’s name, exploiting its brand trust. While not directly Patanjali’s actions, these reflect vulnerabilities it failed to curb effectively.

Regulatory Evasion: Critics allege Patanjali exploited lax enforcement of Ayurvedic product regulations, making bold claims without scrutiny until court intervention.

Consumer Complaints: Anecdotal reports on platforms like Quora and X cite ineffective products, false promises, and financial losses, though these lack systematic documentation.

Notes

- Legal Status: Some entries are allegations or ongoing cases, not proven frauds. Patanjali has denied many claims, calling them attempts to malign its image.

- Third-Party Scams: Items involving fake websites or products highlight external exploitation of Patanjali’s brand, not necessarily its own misconduct.