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Yoga guru Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna have published a second public apology in newspapers today, acknowledging their failure to comply with the Supreme Court’s directives regarding misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved Limited. The apology comes after a previous ad drew scrutiny from the court for its size and prominence.
The latest apology, appearing as a one-fourth page ad, is titled “Unconditional Public Apology” and expresses regret for the non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders. It specifically addresses the holding of a meeting/press conference on November 22, 2023, and vows to prevent the recurrence of similar errors in the future. Signed by Patanjali Ayurved Limited, Acharya Balkrishna, and Swami Ramdev, the apology reaffirms a commitment to adhere to court directives and uphold legal standards.
The court’s scrutiny of the apology size stemmed from concerns raised during the previous hearing. Justices Hima Kohli and A Amanullah questioned the adequacy of the earlier apology’s prominence, emphasizing the importance of its visibility. Despite assertions from Ramdev and Balkrishna’s counsel regarding the widespread publication of the apology, the court remained adamant about verifying its size independently.
The case originates from the controversy surrounding Patanjali’s drug Coronil, which was touted as a COVID-19 remedy. Subsequent misleading claims and disparaging remarks about allopathy by Ramdev intensified the dispute with the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Patanjali faced legal action after publishing advertisements making unsubstantiated claims about its products’ efficacy in curing various ailments.
Following a warning from the Supreme Court in November 2023, Patanjali assured compliance with legal standards. However, subsequent instances of misleading advertisements prompted the court to initiate contempt proceedings. Ramdev and Balkrishna’s failure to provide satisfactory affidavits further exacerbated the situation, leading to the rejection of their initial apologies on April 10.
The matter is set to be heard next on April 30, with Ramdev and Balkrishna summoned to appear in court.
