Yoga Guru Ramdev Summoned By Supreme Court Over Patanjali's Misleading Ads

The Supreme Court today came down heavily on Patanjali Ayurved for failing to respond to a contempt notice over misleading advertisements and ordered yoga guru Ramdev to appear before it.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah also summoned Patanjali managing director Acharya Balkrishna.

The Supreme Court last month pulled up Patanjali for prima facie violation of the undertaking it had given in the court about its products and statements claiming their medicinal efficacy.

The court had issued a notice to Patanjali and Balkrishna, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

But it noted today that Patanjali did not file a response even though it had held a press conference after its previous order.

"Why haven't you filed your response yet? We will ask the managing director to appear in the court during the next hearing," the court said on Tuesday.

The order stated that Ramdev and Balakrishna were both prima facie in violation of Sections 3 and 4 of the Drugs and Remedies Act, which deal with misleading ads of medicines.

The court also issued a contempt notice to Ramdev, co-founder of Patanjali, and asked him to explain why it should not face action for contempt of court.

Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Patanjali Ayurved, opposed the move and sought to know, "How Ramdev come into the picture?"

"You are appearing. We will see on the next date. Enough," the court said.