Ramdev, Balkrishna Offer Public Apology In Patanjali Misleading Ads Case; SC Adjourns Hearing To April 23

File image of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev. ptiPTI Photo by Ashok Bhaumik(PTI12_3_2016_000157B)

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved managing director Balkrishna on Tuesday told the Supreme Court they are willing to tender a public apology in the misleading advertisements case.

“I am willing to give a public apology,” senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ramdev and Balkrishna, told a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah.

Both Ramdev and Balkrishna appeared at the hearing after being directed by the top court.

During the hearing, The court asked Patanjali founders, Ramdev and Balkrishna, to come forward for an interaction with the bench.

“They should feel they have a connect with the court,” the bench said.

The hearing in the matter is underway and the bench is currently interacting with Ramdev. Ramdev and Balkrishna have tendered an ”unconditional and unqualified apology” before the apex court over advertisements issued by the firm making tall claims about the medicinal efficacy of its products.

In two separate affidavits filed in the court, Ramdev and Balkrishna have tendered an unqualified apology for the ”breach of the statement” recorded in the November 21 last year order of the apex court. In the November 21, 2023 order, the top court had noted that counsel representing Patanjali Ayurved had assured it that ”henceforth there shall not be any violation of any law(s), especially relating to advertising or branding of products manufactured and marketed by it and, further, that no casual statements claiming medicinal efficacy or against any system of medicine will be released to the media in any form”.

The top court had said Patanjali Ayurved Ltd is ”bound down to such assurance”. The non-observance of the specific assurance and the subsequent media statements irked the apex court, which later issued a notice to them to explain why contempt proceedings be not initiated against them.