A charismatic anti-vaccination campaigner has gained popularity by claiming that medical science's approach to the pandemic is fully fallacious. But critics say Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury is endangering lives by falsely claiming he can cure Covid-19 by way of weight loss program alone, report Ed Main and Reha Kansara. Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury will not be one to carry again. The Indian social media star - or former social media star, now that he is banned on a number of platforms - asserts that typical medication is a conspiracy designed to line the pockets of medical doctors and huge enterprise. In his videos, he claims his weight-reduction plan plans, wealthy in fruits and vegetables, will cure not only Covid-19, but diabetes and Aids. Medical science says all of that is nonsense. But Mr Chowdhury has used the pandemic to unfold his messages. He teaches his followers that hospitals increase their chances of dying and says that Covid patients with respiration difficulties would do higher sitting in entrance of a handheld fan than receiving oxygen. To his many critics, he is a dangerous fraud whose bad recommendation can solely further gasoline India's horrific second wave of coronavirus. Dr Sumaiya Shaikh, science editor of the Indian fact-checking web site Alt News. It's a following that has been cultivated by way of numerous books, on-line movies and programs and packed-out dwell events. What's the India Covid variant and will vaccines work? YouTube, Twitter and Facebook banned Mr Chowdhury final yr, but not before he assembled an military of followers - nearly a million on YouTube alone before his account was deleted. He still has official channels on WhatsApp and Telegram. Biswaroop's followers are also importing and spreading his content material on proxy accounts. WhatsApp instructed us they're working exhausting to restrict the spread of false coronavirus information on their platform. Telegram did not respond to a request for remark. Mr Chowdhury presents himself as a plucky underdog determine pitted against a medical establishment intent on deceiving the public. Covid-19 is "similar to normal flu" he asserts - regardless of the very fact it's really considerably deadlier. And regardless of the overwhelming proof, external to the contrary, he claims that face masks do not help cease the spread of virus and will actually make wearers ailing. He has co-opted the Urdu word azaadi, that means "freedom" - a rallying cry that resonates with many oppressed communities in India, for his slogan "masks se azaadi" ("freedom from masks"). In one in all his several coronavirus e-books, Mr Chowdhury affords 100,000 rupees (about £960; $1,300) to anyone who "can prove that vaccines have ever helped anyone in any method". There is, in fact, a vast literature of medical analysis stretching back a long time that documents how vaccines have helped management and even eradicate diseases everywhere in the world. But Mr Chowdhury discounts it totally. Mr Chowdhury started creating his controversial weight loss plan "cures" a couple of decade in the past. It's only one strand of a colourful and different career. After training as an engineer, he dabbled in Bollywood movie-making and even cast himself as the star in one movie. He can also be the chief editor and founder of both the India and Asia Book of Records which is modelled on, but not affiliated with, the Guinness Book of Records. Nilesh Christopher, a journalist with the tech web site Rest of World, says Mr Chowdhury became all for nutrition when his wife could not shake a flu-like illness. The Anti-Vax Files: A brand new series from BBC Trending, on the World Service weekly from 05:30 GMT Saturday. India has an extended tradition of Ayurvedic medicine, which uses food and natural therapies to treat ailments. But Mr Chowdhury has made a series of outrageous and fantastical claims for the miraculous effects that can supposedly be achieved by patients who observe his advice. When Covid-19 appeared, Mr Chowdhury rapidly declared it an "influenza-like illness" that could possibly be cured by his pre-current three-step flu weight loss program. He set up a session service where patients are charged 500 rupees (£4.80; $6.70) to obtain a weight-reduction plan plan. Mr Chowdhury says he has cured more than 50,000 folks of Covid-19 without any fatalities. But Dr Arun Gupta, President of the Delhi Medical Council points out that most individuals will get better from the virus regardless of what they eat. Dr Gupta says more must be executed to cease the unfold of such misinformation. Mr Chowdhury stands by his methods and rejects allegations that his teachings put individuals at risk. However, the nutritionist is beneath investigation for one specific claim that his methods have precipitated real life harm. Mr Bihani informed the BBC he blamed Mr Chowdhury for her dying "100%". Mrs Bihani, 56, was suffering from diabetes, and coronary heart and thyroid issues. After discovering Mr Chowdhury on the web, Mr Bihani paid lots of of dollars to take his mother to a three-day occasion to be taught his diabetes cure. The occasion was held at a holistic sanctuary on the outskirts of Delhi. A video of the first night reveals Mr Chowdhury urging his audience to cease taking their medicines. Mr Chowdhury informed the audience that patients who had been in very poor well being, like Shanti Bihani, would be monitored and given again some medicine if needed - however that food would act as their primary treatment going ahead. Mrs Bihani had been taking a variety of medicines, however into the large orange box they went. The following day she complained of feeling drowsy and later collapsed. Eventually she was taken to hospital where she died after suffering a heart attack. In his criminal complaint, Mr Bihani accuses Mr Chowdhury of falsely claiming to be a medical practitioner, offering fraudulent treatments and failing to supply emergency care at the course. Mr Chowdhury denies all this. The most outstanding qualification listed on Biswaroop's webpage is an honorary PHD in diabetes, from Alliance International University, Zambia. It's an institution that in response to its web site is headquartered not in Africa but in the Caribbean. This degree appears to be why Mr Chowdhury calls himself a doctor, although he didn't reply our questions about this challenge. In response to Mr Bihani's allegations, a spokesperson for Mr Chowdhury instructed us that Mrs Bihani was a really sick woman who had been chewing paan masala, a mild however addictive stimulant made with areca nut and other substances. Her son denies that she was during the course. The spokesperson for Mr Chowdhury additionally stated Mr Bihani had his mom's medications on him throughout the course. But Mr Bihani also denies this was the case. Mr Bihani said he hoped his experiences ought to be a warning to anybody thinking of following Mr Chowdhury's recommendation. With reporting from Shruti Menon in Delhi. Hearken to The Anti-Vax Files from BBC Trending, on the World Service. Download the podcast or pay attention on-line.