Patanjali Ads: SC reserves order on contempt case against Ramdev, Balkrishna; Rejects IMA chief's apology

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its order in a contempt of court case against Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna over the company's misleading advertisements.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah also dispensed with the personal appearance of Patanjali Ayurved's founders, Ramdev and Balkrishna.

Ramdev and Balkrishna were present before the top court pursuant to its earlier direction.

Also Read | Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna appeared before Supreme Court in misleading advertisements case

The bench also granted Patanjali three weeks to file affidavits indicating the steps taken to recall misleading ads for Patanjali products, for which licences have been suspended.

"What has been done for yoga is good, but Patanjali products is another matter," Justice Kohil replied when Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that Ramdev has done a lot of good for yoga.

The top court was hearing a case filed by Indian Medical Association (IMA) against an alleged smear campaign carried out by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. and its founders against the Covid-19 vaccination drive and modern medicine.

Also Read | Supreme Court rejects Patanjali's apology, says wilful disobedience of order

Meanwhile, the apex court also pulled up the IMA President Dr RV Asokan for giving an interview to the press on Supreme Court's orders in the case. The top court also said that it was not convinced with the affidavit filed by Asokan tendering unconditional apology.

"You do exactly the same thing Patanjali did. You are not a layman, don't you know the consequences of such things? You can't sit on your couch lamenting the order of the court," the bench told Asokan, who was present in the court. (with Agency inputs)

• #New Delhi
• #Supreme Court
• #Patanjali Ads
• #Patanjali Ayurved Ltd
• #Yoga guru
• #Baba Ramdev
• #Acharya Balkrishna
• #Misleading Advertisements