Patanjali Ayurved, Ramdev, Balkrishna issue fresh apology in misleading ads case

Patanjali Ayurved got a longer version of unconditional apology published in the newspapers on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court asked the ayurveda medicine and FMCG products maker whether an earlier apology this week was the same size as its normal advertisements. In a hearing related to misleading ads, the top court questioned yoga guru Ramdev and his aide Acharya Balkrishna, co-founders of Patanjali Ayurved, after the company published ads in as many as 67 newspapers across the country, apologising for "the mistake of publishing advertisements and holding a press conference even after our advocates made a statement in the apex court", and committing to not repeating such mistakes in the future.

"In wake of the ongoing matter before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India...we in our individual capacity as well as on behalf of the Company, unconditionally apologise for the non-compliance or disobedience of directions/orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. We unconditionally extend the apology for holding meeting/press conference dated 22.11.2023. We earnestly apologise for the mistake made in publishing our advertisements and it is our whole-hearted commitment that such errors will not be repeated," read the latest ad, containing the apology tendered by the company as well as the duo in their individual capacities. 

"We undertake to abide by the directions and instructions of the Hon'ble Court with due care and utmost sincerity. We undertake to uphold the majesty of the court and comply with applicable laws and directions of the Hon'ble Court of law/relevant authorities," it added.  

In Tuesday's hearing, the bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked Patanjali Ayurved: "Is it (the ad published in 67 newspapers) the same size of advertisements that you normally issue in newspapers?"

The previous ad, which the Patanjali counsel said was published in 67 newspapers across the country, had read: "Patanjali Ayurved fully respects the dignity of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. We sincerely apologize for the mistake of publishing advertisements and holding a press conference even after our advocates made a statement in the apex court. We are committed to not letting such a mistake be repeated ever in the future. We reassure you that we shall remain committed to upholding the Constitution and the dignity of the Hon'ble Supreme Court."

Here are some of the key things to know about the Patanjali Ayurved misleading ads case in the Supreme Court:

• Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to accept separate, formal, "unconditional and unqualified" apologies by Ramdev and Balkrishna over certain advertisements issued by the firm making tall claims about the medicinal efficacy of its products. 

• Ramdev pleaded before two Supreme Court judges with folded hands and said he felt provoked to react after his firm Patanjali Ayurved's hugely popular medicines were called "pseudo-science" by critics, but added he was not justifying his action.
• "I want to say we made a mistake," Ramdev told the judges. "What we said at the time should not have been said," the yoga guru said, adding that he would be mindful of such things going forward given that millions of people follow him.
• The case against him relates to a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association in 2022 alleging that Patanjali disparaged conventional medicines and continued to publish misleading ads. The plea also alleges a smear campaign against the COVID-19 vaccination drive. 
• "You are doing good work in your field ... don't disparage allopathy," Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah told Ramdev, referring to conventional treatments.
• On April 16, the apex court had warned Ramdev and Balkrishna against any attempt to "degrade allopathy", permitting them to tender a "public apology and show contrition" within a week in the contempt proceedings in the case of misleading ads against Patanjali Ayurved.

With inputs from agencies