Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna on Tuesday appeared before the Supreme Court of India in the misleading advertisement case. Baba Ramdev & Acharya Balkrishna submitted their written apology to the top court which was rejected. Ramdev & Acharya Balkrishna were summoned by the apex court to be present in person and hence both of them appeared before the court. Warning the Patanjali owners to be ready for action, the Supreme Court disapproved Balkrishna's statement that the Drugs and Cosmetics (Magic Remedies) Act is archaic. At last, the top court gave a week time to both Ramdev & Balkrishna to file their affidavits. Interestingly, a video is going viral on X in which a journalist was pushed away by Baba Ramdev's security who was asking him questions.
In the viral video, the journalist was heard aggressively asking Baba Ramdev why he lied that Coronil can cure. Ramdev's security then intervened and pushed the journalist away. The journalist continued to scream his questions to Baba Ramdev. However, the Yogaguru did not react and continued to walk away from the press.
What did the Supreme Court say about Patanjali Ads?
Justice Kohli was quoted saying, "If this is indefensible, then your apology will not work. This is a gross violation of the undertaking given to the top court. You have to ensure that your undertaking which is solemn should have been adhered to…We are not willing to accept this and this is perfunctory! What is the reason to accept your apology?"
The bench further said, "We are not here to instruct them. Given the respect they command, they cannot be equated with ordinary citizens. They claim to have conducted extensive research. It is precisely because of this claim that we are treating this matter with utmost seriousness."
Sometimes things should reach logical conclusion, the bench said at the outset of the proceedings when the counsel for Patanjali and others sought some more time for filing the affidavits of compliance. The bench granted last opportunity to Ramdev and Balkrishna to file their affidavits in the matter in one week. While posting the matter for further hearing on April 10, the bench directed that both of them shall remain present before it on the next date.
For the unversed, the Supreme Court was hearing a lawsuit filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which had urged action against Patanjali for advertisements that promoted the Ayush treatment system while undermining modern, evidence-based medicine.