Patanjali Issues STRONGER Apology After Supreme Court Rejects First Attempt

New Delhi. Patanjali on Wednesday issued a new public apology over misleading advertisements, this time much bigger and more prominent. Notably, this has come a day after the Supreme Court questioned the size of the public apology issued by Patanjali Ayurved.

The apology published on Wednesday signed by Yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali’s managing director Acharya Balkrishna, reads: “In wake of an going matter before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India (Writ Petition C. No. 645/2022), we in our 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.”

Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, representing Patanjali, was instructed by the court on Tuesday to "cut out the ads and then supply it to us" without enlarging. "We'd like to see the true dimensions. This is our direction. We want to make sure that we don't have to look at advertisements under a microscope when they are released, the court stated.

The statement from the top court came after Rohatgi told the court that the company had apologized unconditionally in ads it had run in 67 newspapers on Monday. The Bench questioned if it was the same size as its product promotions from Patanjali, though. In response, Rohatgi gave a negative response and announced that the group will release more ads.

The matter escalated when Patanjali Ayurved on November 22, 2023 assured the court that it would refrain from making any statements and misleading advertisements, but allegedly violated the undertaking and issued another advertisement on December 4.