Patanjali Ads Case: Ramdev Issues Fresh Public Apology, Bigger Than Yesteday's Ad

Yoga guru Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna issued a new public apology in newspapers on Wednesday (April 24), a day after the Supreme Court questioned them over the size and visibility of an apology issued by Patanjali Ayurved Limited for previous misleading advertisements.

The new unconditional apology published in newspapers read: "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,"

"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," it added.

On Tuesday, Yoga Guru Ramdev and his associate Balkrishna were questioned about the extent to which they prominently displayed their unqualified apology in newspapers.

Yesterday's advertisement was more compact and didn't explicitly mention Ramdev and Balkrishna by name.

"Is it the same size of advertisements that you normally issue in newspapers?" a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked.

Appearing for the duo, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, told the bench they have issued on Monday an unqualified apology for the "lapses" on their part. "Where was it published?" the bench asked. "Prominently?" the bench asked the advocate, directing that the published apology be filed on record and it wanst to see the actual apology.

"The said advertisements are not on record. It is submitted that the same have been collated and shall be filed in the course of the day with copies to counsel for the parties. Needful shall be done within two days with copies to counsel for the parties," the bench said.

The Supreme Court is hearing a plea filed in 2022 by the Indian Medical Association, which alleges a smear campaign against the Covid vaccination drive and modern medical practices.

Ramdev and Balkrishna previously submitted an "unconditional and unqualified apology" to the apex court regarding advertisements released by their company, which made exaggerated claims about the effectiveness of their products.

The matter will come up for hearing on April 30.