Patanjali issues apology prior to Ramdev’s major court date over misleading advertisements.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Patanjali founders Ramdev and Balkrishna, informed the court that they have submitted a new set of apologies. He mentioned that the apologies were published in 67 newspapers at a cost of Rs 10 lakh. The court inquired about the prominence of the apology and asked if it was published with the same font and size as the previous advertisements. Justice Hima Kohli dismissed concerns about the company’s spending on the apologies, stating, “We are not bothered.”

Additionally, the court received an application seeking a Rs 1000 crore fine against the Indian Medical Association (IMA) for its case against Patanjali. The bench raised suspicions about the application, while Rohatgi emphasized that his clients were not involved. Following this, the Supreme Court adjourned the matter for a week after Ramdev expressed his intention to publish a larger apology in newspapers. Justice Kohli specified that the court wants to see the actual size of the advertisements, emphasizing that they should not be enlarged.

Patanjali Ayurved released an apology in national dailies ahead of the Supreme Court hearing, expressing respect for the court and stating their commitment to avoiding similar mistakes in the future. This apology came after the Supreme Court criticized Ramdev and Balkrishna for their misleading claims regarding the company’s products’ ability to cure diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. The court had previously rejected their apologies, deeming them insincere. The dispute dates back to the launch of Patanjali’s drug, Coronil, in 2021, when the company made misleading claims about its effectiveness.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) contested these claims, leading to a legal battle between the two parties. The matter further escalated when a video of Ramdev criticizing allopathy went viral. The court warned Patanjali against making misleading statements in November 2021 and threatened heavy fines. Despite this warning, the company continued to publish misleading advertisements, leading to contempt proceedings.

The court expressed displeasure over Ramdev and Balkrishna’s defiance and rejected their subsequent apologies. The ongoing legal battle revolves around Patanjali’s misleading claims about its products’ ability to cure various diseases and the subsequent actions taken by the Indian Medical Association and the Supreme Court.