Patanjali, Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna seek Supreme Court's pardon for misleading ads

Patanjali Ayurved and its founders Bama Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology before the Supreme Court over the company's misleading advertisements and claims targeting evidence-based medicine [Indian Medical Association & Anr v. Union of India and Ors]. .In their affidavits filed before the Court on April 6, they also sought pardon from the top court for the breach of their earlier statement that they would not telecast or publish such misleading ads."I seek pardon for the aforesaid breach of the statement. I undertake to always uphold the majesty of law and majesty," the affidavits filed by them said.Ramdev also apologised for his November 2023 press conference wherein he had spoken about the case after the Court had passed strictures against Patanjali Ayurved.The Patanjali founder stated in his affidavit that he will comply with the Supreme Court's directives 'in letter and spirit', and would uphold the majesty of the law and that of justice..The development came about after the Supreme Court on April 2 rebuked Patanjali Ayurved over its earlier apology affidavit which was dubbed as casual and a lip service The apex court had sought apology from them for their failure to stop carrying misleading advertisements to promote its ayurvedic products by disparaging modern medicine.The apex court is currently seized of a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against an alleged smear campaign carried out by Patanjali and its founder against the COVID-19 vaccination drive and modern medicine.Earlier, the Court imposed a temporary ban on such advertisements and issued contempt of court notices to the company and Balkrishna for making misleading claims.In November 2023, the Supreme Court had threatened to impose costs of ₹1 crore per false claim made in each advertisement for Patanjali Ayurved products that claim to cure diseases.The top court had directed Patanjali not to publish false advertisements in the future.However, since such ads were published despite the warning, the Court imposed a temporary ban on Patanjali Ayurved's ads, while lamenting that the company has been taking the country for a ride.On March 19, the Court had directed Ramdev and Balkrishna to be personally present before it after the latter failed to file a reply to the show-cause notice in the contempt proceedings..The case will be heard again on Wednesday when both Ramdev and Balkrishna will remain personally present before the bench.