SC Grills Patanjali Over Tiny Apology For Misleading Ads

The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction on Tuesday with the size of the apology issued by Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda in certain newspapers the previous day for running misleading advertisements. The court also posed several tough questions to the Centre and requested it to come prepared in the next hearing with answers.

Patanjali Ayurved issued an apology in certain newspapers yesterday for the "error of publishing advertisements and conducting a press conference despite our advocates' statement in the apex court."

A bench led by Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah heard the case and questioned Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi about the significant difference in the size of the apology and the misleading advertisements.

The court had reprimanded Baba Ramdev and Patanjali MD Balakrishna for contempt of court for holding a press conference and issuing misleading advertisements even after providing an undertaking to the court.

Both Ramdev and Patanjali MD Acharya Balkrishna appeared before the court today.

Justice Kohli remarked at the beginning of the hearing: "You haven't done anything!"

Rohatgi responded, "We have issued an apology."

Justice Kohli inquired, "Where? Why was it filed yesterday after one week? Is the apology the same size as your advertisements?"

Rohatgi eventually informed the court that Patanjali would publish larger apologies in newspapers. The court adjourned the case until the next hearing.

The apex court had granted a week to Yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd MD Balkrishna Acharya to take steps to redeem themselves of the alleged contempt after their lawyers offered to issue a public apology for misleading advertisements case.