Kerala's aphrodisiac man out to prove Musli potency
Kochi, June 25 (IANS) Ahead of the Kerala High Court hearing on the state government ban on popular herbal aphrodisiac Musli Power X-tra, its maker has offered a Rs.10 crore cash award to anyone who proves his pharmaceutical products contain synthetic steroids.
The case challenging the ban imposed by the Left Front regime on April 1 comes up before the Kerala High Court Monday. Kunnath Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures the contentious product, made the Rs.10 crore offer through front page advertisements put in leading newspapers.
"A few multinational companies are bad mouthing my product. I will offer Rs.10 crore to anyone who proves it through scientific testing using the protocol of high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrum analysis," Kunnath Pharma's chief K.C. Abraham told IANS.
There were allegations that the product contained tadalafil or synthetic steroids. Tadalafil is normally used for treatment of impotency - erectile dysfunction.
The then Left Front government on April 1 issued an order banning the product and even asked the company to stop production.
"It was only on April 6, I received this government order through the Drug Controller's office and the very next day I got the order stayed by the Kerala High Court. Let me tell you, not a single day has the production been stopped. This product is now available in the market. This case was posted twice and the public prosecutor on both occasions asked for more time to study the case. It is now coming up again on Monday," said Abraham.
Musli Power X-tra is formulated from safed musli, widely known as an Indian herbal aphrodisiac, and is doing roaring business in the country and abroad.
Kunnath Pharma over the past few years has been spending huge amounts for sponsorships by pumping in money for promotion of football and cricket.
The company was the main sponsor of Churchill Brothers football club a few seasons ago and last year took over the sponsorship of Wayamba cricket team, a Sri Lankan first class cricket side based in Kurunegala.