Patanjali Apologizes to SC in Ad Row

10 Apr 2024 , 10:54 AM

MD Patanjali Ayurveda On April 9, Acharya Balkrishna and yoga master Baba Ramdev filed a new affidavit with the Supreme Court in which they expressed their “unconditional and unqualified apology” for releasing deceptive medical advertising that violated the pledge made to the highest court.

They expressed their heartfelt apologies for the error and vowed to preserve the supremacy of justice and the law, promising the court that it would not happen again.

On April 10, the Supreme Court is anticipated to render a final ruling in this case.

On November 21 of last year, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd gave the supreme court an assurance that it wouldn’t break any laws, particularly those that dealt with branding or advertising of goods it produced and sold. The court was further informed that “no casual statements claiming medicinal efficacy or against any system of medicine will be released to the media in any form”.

The Supreme Court had declared that Ramdev should be given a show-cause notice because of Patanjali’s advertisements, which contradicted the undertaking that the court received on November 21, 2023, appearing to support him.

The Supreme Court shredded Patanjali Ayurved’s defense earlier this month for running deceptive ads. They called the company’s managing director Acharya Balkrishna and yoga guru Ramdev’s apologies “lip service” and said that they had breached “every barrier.” The bench, led by Justice Hima Kohli, also questioned why the government decided to keep its “eyes shut” in response to Patanjali’s outrageous claims about the effectiveness of its products and denigration of allopathy during the height of the Covid pandemic.

The bench ordered that Ramdev and Balkrishna both make another appearance and scheduled the matter for hearing on April 10. The bench said, “You have to follow the undertaking given to the court and you have broken every barrier.” Judge Kohli harshly chastised Ramdev and his deputy Balkrishna, stating that the court would not accept their apology with a “sack full of salt.” There was Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah on the bench as well.

Additionally, the bench forewarned Patanjali, Ramdev, and Balkrishna that it would record “perjury” because some of the documents that were purportedly associated with other papers were later manufactured.

This is definitely a case of perjury. The bench said, “We are telling all that we have noted, but we are not closing the doors on you.”

Ramdev and Balkrishna were given a final week to submit their affidavits, but the supreme court took serious notice of their “absolute defiance” by refusing to follow the instructions provided in the Indian Medical Association (IMA) case.

The Drugs and Cosmetics (Magic Remedies) Act, according to Balkrishna, is “archaic.” The court vehemently disagreed, stating that Patanjali Ayurved’s ads were in the “teeth of the Act” and flagrantly violated the undertaking given to the court.

The bench issued a warning to Balkrishna and Ramdev, who were both in the courtroom, telling them to prepare for the repercussions.

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