"Be Ready For Action": Supreme Court Raps Ramdev, Patanjali MD For Defiance In Misleading Advertisements Case

The Supreme Court rebuked Patanjali Ayurved's co-founder Ramdev and managing director Balakrishna for their persistent failure to file proper affidavits regarding the company's misleading advertisements, as per a report by NDTV.

During today's (2 April) hearing, the top court expressed strong disapproval, stating that every court order in the country must be respected.

The bench of justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah also criticised Patanjali's advertisements, calling them contrary to the law of the land. The court warned Ramdev to "be ready for action".

Despite Patanjali's apology last month, the court refused to accept it, with justice Kohli remarking, "We are not happy with your apology." The court emphasised that Patanjali should have ensured that their apology was sincere and in accordance with the court's directives.

In response, Ramdev's lawyer expressed readiness for personal apologies from both Ramdev and Balakrishna in court, stating, "We want to apologise and are ready for whatever the court says."

The court granted one week's time for Ramdev and Balakrishna to file their affidavits, and set 10 April as the next date of hearing, requiring their presence in court.

The Supreme Court also criticised the Centre for not taking action, stating, "We are wondering why the government chose to keep their eyes shut."

This case originated in November last year when the Supreme Court, hearing a petition by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), cautioned Patanjali Ayurved against making false and misleading claims in advertisements about its medicines.

On 27 February, the top court directed Patanjali to stop all electronic and print advertisements of its medicines with misleading information.

The court's order came after the IMA pointed out several advertisements that allegedly portrayed allopathy and doctors in a negative light, with claims that medical practitioners were dying despite taking modern medicines.