Misleading ad: Patanjali apologises to SC after summons to Baba Ramdev

Patanjali Ayurved has tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court after being accused of violating an earlier agreement.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has filed a complaint alleging Patanjali’s advertisements violated advertising regulations and criticized other medical systems.

Patanjali had previously assured the court on November 21, 2023, that it will avoid such practices. However, despite the promise, Patanjali released an advertisement on December 4, 2023, that the court deemed problematic.

Acharya Balkrishna, Patanjali's Managing Director, filed an affidavit apologizing for the oversight. He claimed that the offending statements were unintentionally included and blamed a lack of awareness within the media department.

The affidavit emphasizes Patanjali's commitment to following the court's order and ensuring such mistakes don't happen again. The affidavit attempts to justify the ad's intent, claiming it aimed to promote healthy living through Patanjali products and traditional Ayurvedic practices.

Interestingly, the affidavit also criticizes the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act as outdated.

What’s next?

The court will decide if Patanjali's apology is sufficient or if further action is necessary. The outdated regulations comment might also spark further discussion.