Bombay HC bans sale of items that claim supernatural powers via ads

The Bombay High Court has banned the sale of items that claim to possess miraculous or supernatural powers via television advertisement.

The Aurangabad bench of the court, comprising Justice Tanaji Nalawade and Justice Mukund Sewlikar ruled that TV advertisements of such items, would be punishable under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.

The bench was seized with a writ petition seeking a declaration that telecast of such advertisements would be illegal and attract the provisions of the Black Magic Act. The petitioner had made respondents actors like Ronit Roy, Anup Jalota, Mukesh Khanna and Manoj Kumar; singer Anuradha Paudwal along with several TV channels. The petition took exception to the ads that showed a 'yantra' ascribed to Lord Hanuman, which the makers claimed had "supernatural" powers and, if purchased, would enhance prosperity.

The petetioner citied the advertiser’s claim that the yantra was prepared by Baba Mangalnath, who had achieved Siddhi. The petitioner argued that such advertisements pushed false propaganda and exploited people, who are superstitious by nature.