The fifth season of the popular business reality show Shark Tank India has kicked off with a controversy that is being termed as one of the most brutal rejections in the show's history. The panel of 'Sharks,' including Anupam Mittal, Kunal Bahl, Aman Gupta, Namita Thapar, and new judge Mohit Yadav, united in their condemnation of a pitcher they labeled a 'fraud,' with Mittal issuing a stark warning of potential jail time.
The Controversial Pitch: Unverified Claims and a 'Doctor' Title
The dramatic episode featured Dr Manoj Das, the founder of an aromatherapy and naturopathy brand named Lewisia Wellness. During his presentation, Das introduced himself as a doctor and made sweeping claims about his products' efficacy. He asserted that his offerings could cure every disease faced by customers and specifically treat skin and hair problems. He emphasized that his solutions were made from natural ingredients and were completely chemical-free.
Das entered the Tank seeking an investment of Rs 1 crore for a mere 1 percent equity in his company, valuing his business at a staggering Rs 100 crore. He claimed his brand achieved sales of Rs 10 crore in the 2024-2025 period with a profit of Rs 4 crore, projecting future sales of Rs 15 crore for FY 2026. These figures were met with shock and laughter from the Sharks, who immediately began scrutinizing his credentials and claims.
Sharks Unite in Condemnation: A Panel in Rare Agreement
The questioning began with Aman Gupta and Mohit Yadav challenging the very basis of his 'chemical-free' claim. "Everything is chemical in this. In a way water is also a chemical," stated Yadav, the founder of Minimalist. The tension escalated sharply when Anupam Mittal questioned the founder's credibility and asked for clinical studies backing the hair growth serum claims. Upon Das's admission that no such studies existed, Mittal retorted, "Then how are you claiming it is a hair growth serum?"
The core issue became Das's use of the title 'Doctor.' When Mittal asked if an aromatherapist and naturopath could legally use the prefix, and Das insisted he could, Mittal shot back, "I will change my name if you can add doctor to yours." Aman Gupta called it a "fraud case," while Kunal Bahl grilled him on the unethical claim of curing all diseases.
Anupam Mittal, after seeing the brand's poor ratings on Amazon, accused him of coming to commit a "kand" (scandal). He criticized the founder's provocative social media reels, saying, "Your big claims are baseless. You are provoking viewers and using their need to look good."
The Unanimous Out: A Stark Warning and Ethical Stand
One by one, every Shark opted out of the deal, delivering harsh feedback. Namita Thapar and Mohit Yadav were the first to exit, with Yadav stating the founder was "creating clickbait content based on user insecurity" and selling unscientific products. Thapar called the brand "unethical" and said Das should be ashamed, not proud, of his sales figures.
Kunal Bahl declared, "I am out," and issued a strong plea: "I hope nobody else invests in this company." Aman Gupta said investing would be doing wrong to the country. Finally, Anupam Mittal called the entire pitch a "disservice" and delivered a blunt warning to the founder: "You will go to jail if you come under scanner." He was so vehement in his rejection that he stated he wanted to exit the pitch multiple times.
The founder, who has a significant social media following with over 6 lakh Instagram followers and 3.7 million YouTube subscribers, left the Tank without an investment and with his business practices thoroughly scrutinized on national television. This episode sets a strong precedent for ethical entrepreneurship in the new season of Shark Tank India.
