The Changodar police filed a complaint against AMB Pharma owner, Amod Bhave, in November last year for manufacturing toxic ayurvedic syrup with alcohol content exceeding the permissible limit. The bottles had stickers falsely stating alcohol levels to be below the permissible limit of 11%.
Justice Hasmukh Suthar of the Gujarat High Court dismissed the petition filed by Bhave to quash prosecution against him for selling alcohol in the name of ayurvedic medicine.
“The state of Gujarat follows the ideals and principles of Mahatma Gandhi, has a firm resolve to eradicate alcohol, and has also amended the laws related to intoxicating drugs. The state has also made amendments to the Gujarat Prohibition Act to completely ban them,” said Justice Suthar.
“In this case, the petitioner faced charges for selling alcohol under the guise of ayurvedic medicine and applied stickers to bottles that stated below the permissible limit of 11%. However, the FSL reports revealed that alcoholic substances were more than 12% in the ayurvedic medicine.”Gujarat High Court
Manan Mehta, the additional state prosecutor asserted, “FIR has been lodged against the petitioner at various places, including Dwarka, Kutch, Rajkot, and Amreli, for selling alcohol under the guise of ayurvedic syrup.”
“By selling medicines containing alcohol beyond the permitted limit, he has played with the public’s health.”
(Rehash/Dr. Vineesha V/MSM)