Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, May 1: The Delhi High Court on Thursday strongly criticised yoga guru Baba Ramdev for posting a fresh video attacking Rooh Afza, a popular drink by Hamdard, despite his earlier undertaking not to make such inflammatory remarks.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Hamdard Laboratories, which sought the removal of Ramdev’s controversial content linking Rooh Afza to 'Sharbat Jihad'. The video, according to the petition, falsely accused Hamdard of using profits from Rooh Afza to fund mosques and madrasas, while promoting Patanjali's own rose-flavoured drink, 'Gulab Sharbat'.

Justice Amit Bansal, who presided over the hearing, took serious note of Ramdev’s repeated defiance. “This is prima facie contemptuous,” the court observed, hinting at issuing a contempt notice and summoning Ramdev in person.
To avoid an immediate court order, Ramdev’s legal counsel assured the court that all objectionable content would be removed from social media platforms within 24 hours. The court has scheduled the next hearing for Friday to decide on Hamdard’s plea for an injunction against the earlier video.

During the proceedings, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Hamdard, lambasted Ramdev's communal undertones and said such videos should not be allowed ‘even for a moment.’ He pointed out Ramdev's past attacks on Himalaya, another herbal brand owned by a Muslim family, and reminded the court of ongoing contempt proceedings in the Supreme Court against Ramdev and Patanjali’s MD Acharya Balakrishna over misleading ads targeting allopathy.

“These shocks the conscience of the court. This is indefensible,” Justice Bansal had remarked in a previous hearing.

The High Court had earlier directed Ramdev to submit an affidavit pledging not to publish or broadcast similar statements in the future. The matter will be taken up again on May 1.