Supreme Court Summons Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna for failing to comply with contempt notice over Patanjali’s misleading advertisements

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the managing director of Patanjali Acharya Balakrishna along with brand ambassador Baba Ramdev and mandated their physical presence before the court for failing to comply with a contempt notice served to the company for issuing misleading advertisements.

In February, the court had strongly criticized the advertisements, expressing dismay that the entire country had been misled by claims of medicinal efficacy. It had previously issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurved and Acharya Balkrishna, questioning potential contempt for allegedly violating the firm's undertaking to the court regarding advertising practices.

The apex court had also instructed the company and its officers to refrain from making statements against any medical systems and sought clarification from the government on actions taken against Patanjali Ayurveda for the alleged misleading advertising.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had brought the case to the court, alleging a smear campaign against modern medicine by the company founded by Baba Ramdev.

In November 2023, Patanjali Ayurved had assured the court of compliance with laws regarding advertising and branding, pledging not to make casual statements about medicinal efficacy or against any medical systems. Despite these assurances, the court had cautioned the firm against disseminating false or misleading claims about its medicines, eventually restraining it from advertising products meant to treat specified ailments under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.​