Ramdev, Patanjali MD appear in Supreme Court in ‘misleading’ advertising case 

Patanjali advertising case: Yoga guru Ramdev, Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna appear in SC

Yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna appeared in the Supreme Court on April 2 in a contempt case initiated against the firm for publishing misleading advertisements in violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 despite an undertaking given to the court in November last year.

“You should have made sure affidavit is filed in pursuance of your solemn undertakings. Sometimes things should reach logical conclusion,” the court said on Patanjali’s plea for granting more time to file fresh affidavit in the case..

“You have to abide by undertaking given to court, you have broken every barrier. This is absolute defiance. Not just SC, every order passed by courts across country has to be respected,” the top court added.

Ramdev’s counsel told the Supreme Court to note an unconditional apology.

A Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah had issued a show cause notice to Baba Ramdev to file his response against initiating contempt proceedings against him.

On November 21, 2023, the court had directed the company to not make any “casual statements” to the print or electronic media about the efficacy of their medicinal products or indulge in any disparaging statements about other disciplines of medicine such as allopathy.

However, a press conference was held by Baba Ramdev, on November 22, the very next day of the Supreme Court order. In the February hearing, the petitioner, Indian Medical Association, had described Baba Ramdev’s association with Patanjali as “everything and nothing at the same time”.