Ramdev’s Bigger Apology In Newspapers after Supreme Court Rap

New Delhi: Ramdev and his associate Balkrishna put out a bigger public apology advertisement in newspapers on Wednesday for not complying with the Supreme Court’s directions in the misleading ads case against Patanjali Ayurved Limited.

Patanjali put out an apology on Tuesday. But the apex court was not satisfied with its size and had asked if its size was as big as the misleading ads of its drugs.

The ad published this morning covers one-fourth of a newspaper page and is titled “Unconditional Public Apology”. “In wake of ongoing matter before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India (Writ Petition C. No. 645/2022), 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,” it read.

“We unconditionally extend the apology for holding meeting/press conference dated 22.11.2023. We earnestly apologize for the mistake made in publishing our advertisements and it is our whole- hearted commitment that such errors will not be repeated. We undertake to abide by 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. Sincerely, Patanjali Ayurved Limited, Acharya Balkrishna, Swami Ramdev, Haridwar, Uttarakhand,” the note added.

The ad published yesterday was smaller and did not specifically mention the names of Ramdev and Balkrishna.

The matter will be heard next on April 30 and Ramdev and Balkrishna have been asked to appear in court.

The case dates back to 2021, when Patanjali launched a drug, Coronil, and Ramdev described it as the “first evidence-based medicine for COVID-19”. Patanjali also falsely claimed that Coronil had certification from the World Health Organization, but the Indian Medical Association called this a “blatant lie”.

The face-off between the medical body and Patanjali escalated after a video of Ramdev, in which he was heard saying that allopathy was a “stupid and bankrupt science”, went viral. The IMA sent a legal notice to Ramdev and sought an apology. In August 2022, IMA moved a petition against Patanjali after it published an advertisement in newspapers titled ‘Misconceptions Spread By Allopathy: Save Yourself And The Country From The Misconceptions Spread By Pharma And Medical Industry’. The ad claimed that Patanjali drugs had cured people of diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid, liver cirrhosis, arthritis and asthma.