News Brief
After Supreme Court Questioned Size, Ramdev And Balkrishna Issue 'Unconditional Apology' Again In Newspapers Over Misleading Ads
Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and his disciple Balkrishna.
Yoga guru Ramdev and his associate Balkrishna issued a public apology in newspapers today (24 April) for failing to comply with the Supreme Court's directives in the misleading advertisements case involving Patanjali Ayurved Limited, as per a report by NDTV.
This apology, which covers one-fourth of a newspaper page, comes after the court questioned the size of yesterday's apology and whether it matched the scale of the misleading ads.
The advertisement, titled "Unconditional Public Apology", expresses regret for the non-compliance with the Supreme Court's orders and pledges to rectify the mistake.
The advertisement stated, "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."
It further added, "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."
During the court hearing, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi informed the bench that the apology was published in 67 newspapers at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.
However, the court insisted on seeing the actual size of the advertisement, emphasising that it should not require a microscope to read.
The case stems from Patanjali's launch of Coronil, touted as an evidence-based medicine for COVID-19, and its subsequent claims regarding certification from the World Health Organization.
The Indian Medical Association disputed these claims, leading to a legal confrontation. The Supreme Court warned Patanjali against making false claims and initiated contempt proceedings after misleading advertisements persisted.
Ramdev and Balkrishna were rebuked for their "absolute defiance" and their initial apologies were deemed insincere. They were instructed to demonstrate genuine remorse in subsequent hearings, with the case adjourned until 30 April.
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