The Delhi High Court has strongly reprimanded Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Foods over advertisements that allegedly referred to Hamdard’s popular drink Rooh Afza as part of a “sharbat jihad,” calling the remarks shocking and “indefensible.”
Justice Amit Bansal, presiding over the case, expressed deep dismay at the content, stating it “shocked the conscience of the court” and that he “couldn’t believe [his] eyes and ears.” The court has directed Patanjali to immediately take down all such videos and advertisements.
The lawsuit was filed by Hamdard National Foundation (India), accusing Patanjali of trademark infringement, defamation, and disparagement. In the ads under scrutiny, Ramdev reportedly claimed that Rooh Afza’s profits were used to fund “madrasas and mosques,” while Patanjali’s rose sharbat supported “gurukuls and Patanjali University.” He also compared this to “love jihad” and “vote jihad.”
Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, representing Patanjali, assured the court that the contested content would be removed from all platforms, including social media. The court has ordered Ramdev to submit an affidavit within five days, pledging not to make similar statements or release related advertisements or social media posts in the future. The next hearing is scheduled for May 1.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Hamdard, argued that Ramdev’s statements crossed the line of fair competition and amounted to hate speech, fostering communal division.
Hamdard has also sought a permanent injunction against such ads, damages amounting to Rs 2 crore, and a formal apology. Additionally, the company has requested the court to direct the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications to remove all objectionable content online.
This case follows earlier legal troubles for Ramdev. In 2024, the Supreme Court initiated contempt proceedings against him over misleading advertising claims, leading to apologies from Ramdev and Patanjali’s MD, Acharya Balkrishna, along with commitments to refrain from such practices in the future.
