Patanjali Ayurved's Managing Director Acharya Balakrishna told the Supreme Court today that the company "expresses regret" for misleading advertisements. He told the court "we will ensure that such advertisements are not issued in the future".
The Managing Director's statement came two days after the court asked Yoga guru Baba Ramdev to appear in person over Patanjali Ayurved's "misleading ads" in two-weeks' time.
Acharya Balkrishna was also asked to appear.
On February 27, the Supreme Court restrained Patanjali Ayurved from publishing advertisements of medicines produced by it for ailments like blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, asthma and obesity, amongst others. It issued a contempt notice against Patanjali Ayurved and Acharya Balkrishna.
In November 2023, the company assured the Supreme Court that it would not make any statements or unsubstantiated claims about medical efficacy or criticising the system of medicine. But the company continued to issue misleading advertisements.
In his affidavit before the Supreme Court, Acharya Balakrishna said the advertisements released after November 2023 were meant to contain only “general statements”, but inadvertently included the “offending sentences”.
"We will ensure that such advertisements are not issued in the future. By way of clarification, not as a defence, the deponent begs to submit that its intention is only to exhort the citizens of this country to lead a healthier life by consuming Patanjali products including products for lifestyle ailments through the use of age-old literature and materials supplementing and backed by ayurvedic research," the affidavit said.
"Our only quest is for a better and healthier life for each and every citizen and to reduce the burden on the country's healthcare infrastructure by providing holistic, evidence-based solutions for lifestyle related medical complications through the usage of the age-old traditional approach of Ayurveda and Yoga."
