"You are not so innocent that you did not know": Baba Ramdev Issues Unconditional Apology to the Supreme Court; Patanjali Granted One Week to Release Public Statement on False Advertisements

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Tuesday issued an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court regarding the Patanjali misleading advertisement case, affirming that such incidents would not repeat in the future. Additionally, Acharya Balkrishna, the Managing Director of Patanjali, also personally apologized to the Court. During the proceedings, both Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd MD Balkrishna admitted their wrongdoing by violating an undertaking given to the Court. They sought the court's permission to rectify their actions by voluntarily undertaking certain measures, including issuing a public apology.

During the hearing, Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah of the Supreme Court interacted directly with Ramdev and Balkrishna, questioning why they acted in defiance of the Court's undertaking. Ramdev acknowledged their mistake, expressing regret for their impulsive actions.

"We have not decided whether to forgive you or not. You have violated the directives thrice. The earlier orders are under consideration. You are not so innocent that you did not know what's happening in court," noted the Supreme Court. The court granted Ramdev, Balkrishna, and Patanjali a one-week period to release a public statement regarding the case of the advertisement. The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on April 23, with the court making it clear that they are not excusing the defendants at this stage. "We are not saying at this stage we are letting them off the hook,” noted the Supreme Court.

Last week, the Supreme Court dismissed an affidavit submitted by Patanjali, which contained an 'unconditional apology' in the misleading advertisement case. The Court emphasized that its primary concern lies with the health of ordinary citizens who are often deceived by deceptive advertisements and lured into purchasing products. It clarified that its intention was not to target any specific entity but to send a message that violations of the law will not be tolerated. The Court had rejected two sets of apologies from Ramdev and Balkrishna, noting that the letters were initially sent to the media, indicating a preference for publicity over issuing a genuine apology

The contempt case stems from a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association against Patanjali's advertisements attacking Allopathy and claiming to cure certain diseases. Despite warnings from the Court, Patanjali continued to publish misleading advertisements, prompting the Court to issue a notice to show cause why action should not be taken against them for contempt. Ramdev's derogatory remarks about Allopathy and claims about Patanjali products curing diseases have been contentious issues, leading to legal action by the Indian Medical Association. Despite repeated warnings and court orders, Patanjali persisted in publishing deceptive advertisements, prompting the Court to summon Ramdev and Balkrishna personally to address the contempt charges.​