Punjab influencer denied bail after 71 suffer adverse reactions to hair oil for baldness
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has denied anticipatory bail to a social media influencer who promoted a homemade hair growth oil that allegedly caused adverse reactions in more than 70 people during a camp in Punjab's Sangrur.
The incident took place on March 16 at the Kali Mata Temple in Sangrur, where Amandeep Singh applied his oil on attendees, claiming it could combat baldness. Within hours, 71 people reported burning sensations in the eyes and swelling on their faces. They were treated at Civil Hospital, Sangrur, where the senior medical officer diagnosed the reaction as severe contact dermatitis. Doctors warned that if the eyes' corneas had been affected, some victims could have lost their vision.
Singh, who has more than 86,000 followers online and has applied for a patent for the oil, claimed the reactions were due to improper application by the users. His counsel highlighted his work as a hairstylist, and said he was only trying to help people facing hair loss.
The court, however, was not persuaded. Citing the scale of the reactions — around 500 people had attended the event — the judge noted that the case pointed to broader dangers of unverified beauty products being marketed on social media.
In a strongly worded order delivered on May 12, the court criticised the role of online influencers in exploiting personal insecurities for profit. Quoting Shakespeare — 'Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind' — the judge said, 'This is yet another unfortunate example of internet-famous, unqualified quacks taking advantage of the common man's insecurities.'
The court stressed that products should be released only after ensuring safety and understanding possible side effects. 'Advertising tall, misleading claims without scientific backing must be condemned,' the judge said, adding that the state had a responsibility to protect public health and maintain trust in the market.
With the bail plea dismissed, Singh now faces arrest as the investigation continues under charges including Section 124 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Section 7 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
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