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Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna Apologise for Misleading Patanjali Ads, SC says "You Are Not So Innocent"
Moneylife Digital Team 16 April 2024
Economy & Nation
The Supreme Court on Tuesday personally interacted with Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, the promoters of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, to gauge the genuineness of their apology for running misleading advertisements that also disparaged modern medicine, says a report from Bar & Bench.
 
While they both expressed that they are sorry for their conduct, the bench of justice Hima Kohli and justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah indicated they are not out of the woods yet.
 
"Hum yeh nahi keh rahe ki hum maaf kardenge aapko.. aapka history hum andekha karde ... adesh thhe court ke tab bhi is orders ka avhelna hua toh aap itne innocent naho hai (translation: We are not saying we will forgive you. We cannot be blind to your earlier history, we will think about your apology. You are not so innocent that you were completely unaware of what was going on in Court) ... At this moment, we are not saying they're off the hook," justice Kohli says.
 
The SC eventually adjourned the matter till 23rd April after recording an undertaking by Patanjali and its representatives that they propose to voluntarily take some steps to redeem themselves and show their good intentions, the report says.
 
"The proposed contemnors will take some steps on their own initiative and unilaterally. (Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi) requests one week time to come back with the same. The Court also interacted with the proposed contemnors at the request of Respondents 5-6. List on 23rd April, top of the list. Make sure both the proposed contemnors are present on the next date," the bench stated. 
 
Last week, for the second time, the apex court refused to accept the unconditional apology offered by Baba Ramdev, founder of Patanjali Ayurved and co-founder and the company managing director (MD), Acharya Balkrishna for advertising medical products violating an undertaking given by them in November last year. 
 
Calling the actions of the three as 'wilful disobedience of order', SC warned them to be ready to face consequences. SC also rapped the Uttarakhand government and the state licensing authority for 'doing nothing' and 'twiddling their thumbs' while Patanjali continued violating orders given by the apex court. 
 
Coming down heavily on Baba Ramdev, Patanjali and Acharya Balkrishna for taking the contempt of court proceedings lightly, the bench of justice Kohli and justice Amanullah says, "They did not find it fit to send us the fresh apology affidavits. They sent it to the media first. Till 7:30pm yesterday, it was not uploaded for us. They believe in publicity clearly."
 
"We decline to accept your affidavit. We consider what you have done to be a willful, deliberate, repeated violation of our orders," it added.
 
The bench also grilled the Uttarakhand government for its inaction against Patanjali. It asked the counsel representing Uttarakhand government, "How do you explain your conduct? We are not going to let (you) go free. Why should we not come down on you like a ton of bricks?"
 
Stating that the state government is 'hand in glove' with Patanjali, SC says, "Why should we not believe that you are in cahoots with Patanjali? That you have not kept your eyes closed deliberately and let them get away with everything? Your officers have done nothing! Action has to be taken against your officers."
 
"We will not let you get away with this. This is why the Supreme Court is becoming a mockery. We want to make it clear that we are not living in ivory towers," the bench says. (Read: SC Refuses To Accept Unconditional Apology by Baba Ramdev, Patanjali and Acharya Balkrishna, Raps Uttarakhand Licensing Authority)
 
Comments
VEGO
1 year ago
Nestle can blatantly add Sugar in Cerelac for Generations producing obesity and juvenile diabetics , and we turn a blind eye, while poor old Ayurvedic formulations which have for centuries helped Indians, get kicked in the Butt.
Chinese traditional medicines are a revered in China, and we are ready to denounce our own home.
Blind Justice !!
Reply
adityag
1 year ago
Yet to hear apology from MNCs and Pharma over misleading (and dangerous) claims. Selective bias at play here.
Reply
Kamal Garg
1 year ago
Fail to understand why once again and repeatedly the apology was not sent to Supreme Court first and why to media first. It is definitely a willful act of disobedience.
Reply
arun
1 year ago
See this video about SC action on Patanjali https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovt658vyEdc
Reply
bhatiahv
1 year ago
Even the blind can see how the specific target is made.
Reply
mohansiroya
1 year ago
Rule of law will only be established when a stern punishment is meted out by the Court on Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna and the concerned officers of the Uttarakhand Government who openly allowed the disobedience of the Apex Court orders. This is a fit case for Contempt action.
Reply
karandeep1982
1 year ago
Hefty financial penalties (at least 5 years of profit) should be levied on this thug baba
Reply
Nahom
1 year ago
If it were China or Vietnam Baba and Bala would not have got a slap on their wrist for Billions looted via quackery.
Reply
pankajpandya58
1 year ago
Neither the Supreme Court nor Patanjali,THE ACT is at fault.
Reply
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