The Supreme Court Rejects Apology from Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD in Contempt Case
The Supreme Court has refused to accept the apology offered by Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna in response to notices regarding potential contempt of court proceedings. Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah were presiding over a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association against Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.
During the hearing, Mukul Rohatki, representing Ramdev and Acharya, stated that the apology was “unconditional and unqualified.” However, Justice Kohli expressed skepticism, stating that the apologies appeared insincere and were issued only after being caught violating the court’s directives. The court deemed the actions as deliberate disobedience of the undertaking provided earlier.
The court’s displeasure stemmed from a Patanjali Ayurved advertisement released on December 4, 2023, despite the company’s assurance on November 21, 2023, that it would refrain from making unsubstantiated claims regarding medicinal efficacy or criticizing any system of medicine.