Following the Supreme Court’s rap, Yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Limited’s Balkrishna have complied with the apex court’s order to publish a larger apology in newspapers over the case of misleading advertisements. On Wednesday, various newspapers carried a more prominent public apology than the previous days, after the top court questioned the size of the company’s previous apology in comparison to its misleading advertisements.
Titled “Unconditional Public Apology,” Patanjali’s statement covered almost one-fourth of newspapers. The apology read, “In wake of an on going matter before the Honourable Supreme Court of India, 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 Honourable Supreme Court of India.”
The apology further stated, “We unconditionally extend the apology for holding meeting/press conference dated 22.11.2023. We earnestly apologise 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 Supreme 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 court of law/relevant authorities.”
The letter was signed by both Balkrishna and Ramdev.
Patanjali had issued a similar apology a day before, but the size of the letter was significantly smaller than the one published on Wednesday. During a Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday, Mukul Rohatgi, representing Ramdev, informed the court that Patanjali had published public apologies in 67 newspapers, reportedly at a cost of “tens of lakhs.” Justice Hima Kohli, in response, inquired if the apology was of the same size as the company’s earlier advertisements. The court also noted that the apology had only been issued on April 22.
A bench comprising of Justice Kohli and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah was hearing the contempt case against Patanjali Ayurveda for publishing misleading medical advertisements in violation of an undertaking given to the Supreme Court in November last year.
