Awareness about HIV yes, but what of claims?

It has been over three years since a private complaint was filed in a city court against Siddharth Jondhale of Vazirabad, in Nanded district, for allegedly making false claims of curing HIV and AIDS patients. But the case has made hardly any headway.

Rama Sarode, secretary of Sahyog Trust, an NGO working for the protection of human rights, had filed the complaint on June 14,
2007, against the alleged false claims made by Jondhale.
He claims to be a doctor and having found a cure for HIV and AIDS.

The case was filed under the section of 420 of the Indian Penal
Code, 1860, and sections 3, 5 and 7 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954.

“But there has been no development so far in the case. The summons sent to Jondhale was returned unserved as the Nanded police claimed he was out of town,” said Sarode.

Jondhale had engaged in the treatment of HIV and AIDS patients through advertisements in various newspapers across
Maharashtra in 2007. On May 2, 2007 he had advertised in a prominent daily in Pune saying he had a patent for the treatment in India and Africa.

“The government is spending crores of rupees on HIV and AIDS
awareness, but it simply cannot crack the whip on such people, who mislead the poor and society,” Sarode said.