HC tells Ramdev to file affidavit, refrain from communal slurs in ads against rivals

New Delhi, May 3: The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Patanjali Ayurved founder Baba Ramdev to file an affidavit undertaking that he will refrain from making any communal or disparaging statements, including on social media or in advertisements, targeting competitor products. The direction came in response to a plea by Hamdard National Foundation, which alleged that Ramdev had targeted its popular drink Rooh Afza using communal slurs, reports Bar and Bench.

Justice Amit Bansal reiterated the Court’s April 22 order, instructing Ramdev and Patanjali Foods Ltd to formally commit to abstain from issuing similar content in the future. Ramdev’s counsel, Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, told the court that the affidavits would be filed during the day, and submitted copies to the opposing counsel. The controversy stems from a promotional video released by Ramdev on April 3 in which he endorsed Patanjali’s Gulab Sharbat and accused Hamdard of funding “masjids and madrasas” through sales of Rooh Afza. In the video, he also used the phrase “sharbat jihad,” which Hamdard argued amounted to communal targeting and defamation.

When the matter was first heard on April 22, Justice Bansal expressed shock at the content of the videos. “I could not believe my eyes and ears,” he remarked, calling the statements “indefensible.” The Court had then warned that it would pass a stringent order unless Ramdev and Patanjali took corrective steps. Following this, Ramdev assured the court that the objectionable content would be removed and agreed to file an affidavit undertaking not to repeat such actions. However, when the case returned to court on Friday, Hamdard’s counsel, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, pointed out that Ramdev had only made the video “private” on YouTube, which meant subscribers could still access it. In response, Nayar said the video would be fully removed within 24 hours and confirmed that all required affidavits would be submitted.

Justice Bansal directed that the affidavits be filed during the day and listed the matter for the next compliance hearing on May 9.

The court reprimanded Ramdev over another recent video allegedly containing fresh disparaging remarks against Hamdard. The judge warned of contempt proceedings and even hinted at summoning Ramdev to court. Ramdev’s legal team then assured the court that objectionable content from the new video would be taken down from all platforms within 24 hours, and a compliance affidavit would be filed within a week as reported by Bar and Bench. The legal team for Hamdard included Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sandeep Sethi, alongside a battery of lawyers including Pravin Anand and Dhruv Anand. The ongoing case marks a high-profile clash between two legacy players in India’s traditional beverage and health product sector, with communal rhetoric now under judicial scrutiny. The court’s insistence on formal undertakings and repeated compliance checks signals its firm stance against the use of divisive language in commercial rivalry.