Content creator Chota Don (@choga_don) set social media ablaze with a viral X post sharing clips from Shark Tank India 5. The clips showed judges tearing into wellness entrepreneur Manoj Das for presenting himself as a “doctor” on Instagram.
Manoj Das, a Jaipur-based founder of Lewisia Wellness with over 611,000 followers, pitched aromatherapy oils and hair products. He claimed these could cure genetic baldness, give glass skin using glycerine, and treat serious conditions, triggering visible anger from the judges.
Anupam Mittal questioned Das’s use of the “Dr.” title, while Aman Gupta called the pitch immoral. Namita Thapar warned him of legal consequences. The sharks rejected his demand of Rs 1 crore for 1% equity, calling out the pitch as misleading.
The controversy gained more traction when X user Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) amplified the clips from Chota Don’s thread. His tweet praising the exposure of fake Instagram doctors drew millions of views and thousands of reactions.
Soon after, Das removed the word “Doctor” from his social media bio. Critics accused him of promoting pseudoscience through viral reels and Amazon listings, even as his follower count continued to rise, raising questions around deliberate controversy.
The episode triggered wider debate about unregulated wellness influencers on Instagram. Many qualified doctors called for stricter action against those exploiting health fears for profit, calling the moment a long overdue reality check.
So so so satisfying, thanx for exposing these fake instagram doctors ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5dnTReIwFH
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) January 10, 2026
