'Complete Disregard': Baba Ramdev Apologises to Supreme Court in Misleading Advertisements Case

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev has issued an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court on Tuesday for failing to comply with its order in a case related to misleading advertisements. Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, the managing director of Patanjali Ayurved, appeared before the Supreme Court following the issuance of show cause notices questioning why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

On March 19, the apex court had directed Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear before it due to the company's failure to respond to the notice issued in the case. The court had expressed its intention to issue a show cause notice to Ramdev as the advertisements released by Patanjali contradicted the undertaking given to the court on November 21, 2023.

The court had strongly criticised the company for not adhering to its commitment to refrain from publishing advertisements of products claiming to cure diseases. "Requesting the court to note my presence and unconditional apology," stated Ramdev's counsel.

The Supreme Court urged Baba Ramdev to honour his company's commitment to the court. "You have broken every barrier," the court remarked, adding, "This is absolute defiance. Not just SC, every order passed by courts across the country has to be respected."

Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. had assured the top court on November 21, 2023, that it would not violate any law, particularly those related to advertising or branding of its manufactured and marketed products. The firm had also assured the bench, led by Justice Hima Kohli, 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 is currently hearing a plea from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging a smear campaign by Ramdev against the Covid vaccination drive and modern system of medicine. 

(With inputs from PTI)