Yoga guru Ramdev and his associate Balkrishna issued a public apology today through newspaper advertisements, acknowledging their failure to comply with the directives of the Supreme Court in the case involving misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved Limited. This comes after the court demanded a sizeable apology equivalent to the misleading ads themselves.
The apology, spanning one-fourth of a newspaper page, was titled “Unconditional Public Apology” and expressed remorse for the non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders, particularly regarding a meeting/press conference held on November 22, 2023. It affirmed a commitment to rectify the mistake and assured that such errors would not recur. Signed by Patanjali Ayurved Limited, Acharya Balkrishna, and Swami Ramdev, the apology pledged adherence to the court’s directives with sincerity and respect for the law.
Yesterday’s advertisement, although smaller and lacking specific mention of Ramdev and Balkrishna, preceded today’s more comprehensive apology.
During the court proceedings, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Ramdev and Balkrishna, disclosed that the apology had been published in 67 newspapers at a cost of ₹10 lakh.
However, the bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice A Amanullah insisted on receiving the actual-size cutouts of the advertisements, emphasizing the need for prominence and visibility, without necessitating a microscope to read them.
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The case stems from events during the COVID-19 pandemic when Patanjali launched Coronil in 2021, claiming it as the “first evidence-based medicine for COVID-19” and asserting World
Health Organization certification. However, these claims were disputed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), leading to a legal dispute. Further contention arose when Ramdev criticized allopathy, prompting a legal notice from the IMA.
In August 2022, the IMA petitioned against Patanjali for misleading advertisements, particularly one disparaging allopathy. Despite court warnings, Patanjali continued its alleged misinformation campaign, leading to contempt proceedings initiated by the Supreme Court. Subsequent apologies were deemed insincere by the court, prompting the need for a more genuine expression of regret.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 30, with Ramdev and Balkrishna summoned to appear in court. The case underscores the importance of adherence to legal directives and responsible advertising practices in the healthcare sector.
