Hmm. Since you've asked the question generally, I'll forget about Sanchi and approach it generally. I personally think that it really, really depends on the circumstances. But overall, I think that unless someone is not of sound mind, or is somehow intensely blinded or deluded by an issue, it's not generally OK to keep them in the dark for their own good.
That said, though, I do remember one situation in my own life where I was kept in the dark for my own good based on a morality with which I can't really argue. Basically, when I was still in school, my cousin, who lived in a different town, died in a car accident the night before my school prize-giving ceremony (at which I would be receiving prizes and performing). My dad flew off to Nairobi for the funeral, and my mum lied to me that he had been sent there urgently for work. The whole day, I sensed that something was off with my mum (she worked at the same school I studied at, so I would see her during the day), but she kept saying nothing was wrong. School closed at lunchtime due to the function in the evening, so we were at home in the afternoon, and our neighbours came over to offer their condolences. I was not in the room when they came over, and they went quiet after I entered. My mum still wouldn't tell me what was going on - she said they had just come over to say hello. I was slightly confused, but put it out of my mind. My mum and I went for the function in the evening and I performed and got my prizes. Only afterwards, when we got home, did she tell me about my cousin's death. On the one hand, I understand that she did this because a) she knew that I was nervous about my performance and did not want to give me emotional stress and cause me to mess it up, and b) she wanted me to enjoy receiving my prizes. So I don't blame her for doing what she did - in fact, I admired her bravery for being able to keep her feelings hidden throughout the course of the day. However, on the flip side it did cause me to feel guilty for not being able to properly read the signs, notice that something was seriously wrong, and demand an explanation. On some level, it made me question how good a daughter I was for not being able to recognise that my mother was in pain. But overall, I still support my mother's course of action in that particular situation.
However, in Sanchi's situation, I don't think putting medication in her food without her knowledge is OK, even though the Shekhars are obviously doing it with good intentions. As it is a prolonged course of action and not just a one-off lie, when Sanchi eventually finds out about it, which she is bound to, she will feel a much more acute loss of trust in her family, feel even more "ganged up against" and alienated, and hate Anandi bhabhi even more. And I wouldn't blame her, really... we implicitly trust the content of food/drink given to us by our loved ones - I think I'd feel awful if my mother went behind my back like that to give me medication rather than telling me straight up that I needed to take it and gently and calmly explaining to me why. Plus what gets me about Sanchi's case is that there is absolutely no real reason for them not to just go up to her and be like, "So we consulted the best psychiatrist in the city, and she has prescribed you this medication. It's clear to us that you are going through a hard time right now mentally and emotionally. We too have been deeply hurt by the things you have done which have brought shame to our family. As such, if you wish to earn back our trust, and overwhelmingly just for the good of your own mental state, we have decided that you must take this medication. Because your previous actions have caused us to lose faith in you, we will be keeping the medicine and giving the required dosage to you at mealtimes." End of story. Are they such bad parents, or so terrified of breaking their supposedly fragile princess, or so convinced that she would not listen to reason, that they can't approach the matter in a calm, sensible and upfront way?
So basically, in Sanchi's case, I would say that what her family are doing is not OK, because she is sane enough that her consent could have been asked, and the only reason why they are going behind her back in this way is because their parenting skills and ability to set boundaries totally stink.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
