After Delhi HC rap, Patanjali agrees to remove content targeting Rooh Afza
PTC Web Desk: Yoga guru Ramdev and his company Patanjali Ayurved have agreed to withdraw controversial videos and social media posts after the Delhi High Court strongly criticised comments made against the popular drink Rooh Afza. The videos allegedly featured inflammatory phrases like "sharbat jihad", which the court said were "indefensible" and deeply troubling.
The remarks, made during the launch of Patanjali's rose sharbat, were widely interpreted as indirect attacks on Hamdard’s Rooh Afza. In the promotional content, Ramdev implied that purchasing Rooh Afza supported the construction of madrasas and mosques, while consuming Patanjali’s sharbat would contribute to gurukuls and other Hindu institutions. He went on to compare other sharbat brands to "toilet cleaners" and urged the public to "protect their families" by avoiding such drinks.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Hamdard, argued that the statements extended beyond brand disparagement and amounted to hate speech aimed at sowing communal tension. “This must be removed,” Rohatgi asserted during the hearing.
Reacting strongly, the court noted, “This shocks the conscience of the court,” with the judge adding, “I couldn’t believe my ears and eyes when I saw the video.” Following this, Patanjali’s counsel assured the bench that the company would immediately remove all controversial content.
The High Court instructed the defense to submit an affidavit confirming the withdrawal of all such content and a commitment not to release similar statements in the future. The affidavit must be filed within five days, and the next hearing is scheduled for May 1.
During the session, another remark attributed to Ramdev—suggesting people were ruining their "faith and wealth" by consuming Rooh Afza—was also brought up. The defense pleaded that the court should not "exploit the fairness" of the proceedings by dwelling on each comment in isolation.
This controversy adds to a series of legal battles involving Patanjali and its founders. In recent years, the brand has faced numerous challenges over misleading advertisements.
- With inputs from agencies
