Shark Tank India 5: Lewisia Wellness Pitch Turns Explosive as Anupam Mittal Issues Jail Warning

Shark Tank India Season 5 kicked off with controversy when wellness brand Lewisia faced one of the show’s harshest rejections. Founder Dr. Manoj Das encountered intense scrutiny from Sharks Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, and Mohit Yadav over questionable practices and misleading claims.

Shark Tank India 5 Pitch Details at a Glance

The Controversial “Doctor” Title

The tension escalated when Sharks questioned Manoj’s use of the title “doctor” while practicing aromatherapy. Anupam Mittal warned sternly: “Manoj, aap social media par ho isliye nazar nahi aa rahe, jab aaoge toh sidha jail jaaoge” (You’re not visible because you’re on social media, but when you emerge, you’ll go straight to jail).

Aman Gupta echoed concerns about the serious implications of misusing medical credentials, emphasizing that such practices could endanger consumers.

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Chemical-Free Claims Debunked

Mohit Yadav of Minimalist challenged Lewisia’s “chemical-free” positioning, pointing out that even water is technically a chemical. When Aman Gupta spotted Sodium Benzoate in their products, the brand’s credibility crumbled further.

The Sharks expressed frustration that Lewisia’s products lacked clinical testing despite making health-related claims.

Pseudoscientific Content Exposed

When Manoj showcased his social media videos, thumbnails like “Haldi ke paani se glass skin paayein sirf 7 din ke andar” (Get glass skin with turmeric water in just 7 days) raised red flags. Mittal and Yadav accused him of preying on consumer insecurities related to hairfall and skin problems.

“Main samajh gaya yaar aap kya kar rahe ho” (I understand what you’re doing), Mittal stated, indicating he recognized the manipulative marketing tactics.

Panel Delivers Unanimous Rejection

Each Shark delivered scathing feedback:

Namita Thapar urged Manoj to do “soul searching,” calling his practices unethical and misleading.

Kunal Bahl thanked him for appearing so viewers could identify fraudsters, criticizing claims of curing multiple diseases.

Aman Gupta declared: “Agar maine isme paisa daal diya toh main apne aap, apne country, business aur paise ke saath galat karunga” (If I invest, I’d be doing wrong to myself, my country, business, and money).

Anupam Mittal refused even to wish him good luck, stating Das was fooling consumers.

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