Patanjali Misleading Ads: Ramdev, Balkrishna Offer Unconditional Apologies to Supreme Court
New Delhi: Yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd’s Managing Director, Acharya Balkrishna have filed affidavits in the Supreme Court offering unconditional apologies for breaching an earlier undertaking regarding misleading advertisements.
The apex court had previously accepted assurances from Patanjali that it would refrain from making unsubstantiated claims about the medicinal properties of its products and avoid criticizing allopathy in public pronouncements. However, subsequent advertisements and statements by Ramdev prompted the court to issue contempt notices.
In their affidavits, both Ramdev and Balkrishna expressed regret for the lapse and pledged to comply with the court’s order in letter and spirit. Ramdev specifically apologized for a press conference held in late 2023 and vowed to abstain from future statements that could violate the court’s directive. Balkrishna echoed this commitment, emphasizing his respect for the legal system.
This ongoing saga stems from a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) accusing Patanjali of undermining the national vaccination program and disparaging modern medicine.