The Supreme Court warned Patanjali Ayurved, a company founded by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, for making false claims in its ads. The apex court issued a warning, demanding an immediate halt to false assertions about the curative properties of Patanjali’s medicines, with a potential penalty of Rs 1 crore ($120,000) for each deceptive claim.
The court’s strong stance came during the hearing of a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against Patanjali’s misleading advertisements. Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra presided over the bench, cautioning Patanjali against making false claims or facing severe financial consequences.
Despite the Supreme Court’s reproach, Ramdev baba remained adamant, asserting that his company was not engaged in spreading falsehoods. He accused a group of doctors propagating a campaign to tarnish the reputation of Patanjali and the age-old practice of Yoga.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Ramdev declared, “We are not doing any false propaganda. If we are proven wrong, we are ready to face penalties, even the death penalty. However, if we are not liars, then those spreading false propaganda must be held accountable.”
Ramdev further defended the authenticity of Patanjali’s ayurvedic products, claiming they have the necessary clinical evidence to support their effectiveness. He criticized recent attempts to discredit the ancient practice of Yoga, stating that there is a deliberate campaign to damage the reputation of Patanjali.
The Supreme Court, while avoiding turning the case into an “Allopathy vs Ayurveda” debate, emphasized the need to address misleading medical advertisements. The bench directed the Government of India to provide suitable recommendations after consultations.
In response to the Supreme Court’s warning, Patanjali issued an undertaking, committing to refrain from publishing such advertisements in the future. The company also pledged to avoid making causal statements in the media that could further mislead the public.