Patanjali ads: Ramdev, Balkrishna tender 'unconditional' apology to SC

Patanjali ads: Ramdev, Balkrishna tender 'unconditional' apology to SC

Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna and yoga guru Baba Ramdev on April 9 filed a fresh affidavit in Supreme Court expressing “unconditional and unqualified apology” for publishing misleading medical advertisements violating the undertaking given to the apex court.

They said they sincerely regret this lapse and wish to assure the court that the same will not be repeated and are committed to upholding the majesty of law and justice.

The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its final decision on the matter on April 10.

Patanjali Ayurved Ltd assured the top court on November 21 last year that it will not violate any law, especially those relating to advertising or branding of products manufactured and marketed by it. It also assured the bench that "no casual statements claiming medicinal efficacy or against any system of medicine will be released to the media in any form".

The top court had said it deemed it appropriate to issue Ramdev a show cause notice as advertisements issued by Patanjali, which were in the teeth of the undertaking given to the court on November 21, 2023, reflect an endorsement by him.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court tore into Patanjali Ayurved's defence for putting out misleading advertisements, rejecting the apology from yoga guru Ramdev and the firm's managing director Acharya Balkrishna as "lip service" and saying they had broken "every barrier". The bench, headed by Justice Hima Kohli, also questioned the Centre's alleged inaction over Patanjali's tall claims about the efficacy of its products and denigrating allopathy during peak Covid and asked why the government chose to keep its ''eyes shut''.

The bench posted the matter for hearing on April 10 and said both Ramdev and Balkrishna have to appear again. ''You have to abide by the undertaking given to the court and you have broken every barrier,'' the bench said. Sternly reprimanding Ramdev and his number two Balkrishna, Justice Kohli said the court was taking their apology with a ''sack full of salt''. The bench also comprised Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah.

The bench also warned Patanjali, Ramdev, and Balkrishna that it would take note of ''perjury'' as certain documents, which were said to be attached with other papers, were created later on.

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

The apex court, which had granted Ramdev and Balkrishna a last one-week opportunity to file affidavits, took strong note of their ''absolute defiance'' in not adhering to the undertaking given before it in the case filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

The court had strongly disapproved of Balkrishna's statement that the Drugs and Cosmetics (Magic Remedies) Act is ''archaic'' and said Patanjali Ayurved's advertisements were in the ''teeth of the Act'' and violated with impunity the undertaking given to the court.

The bench warned Ramdev and Balkrishna, who both were present in the court, to be ready to face the consequences.

With inputs from PTI