'Sharbat Jihad' row: Yoga guru Ramdev promises Delhi HC no more remarks against Hamdard's Rooh Afza
'Sharbat Jihad' row: Yoga guru Ramdev has undertaken before the Delhi high court that he will not issue any statements, social media posts, disparaging videos, or advertisements in the future regarding Hamdard's popular drink Rooh Afza.
Ramdev's counsel Rajiv Nayyar submitted before a bench of Justice Amit Bansal that the undertaking would be filed in the court by way of an affidavit during the day and thus sought for disposal of the suit, according to legal news website LiveLaw.
The court has fixed 9 May as the next date of hearing.
During the hearing, Hamdard's counsel submitted that Ramdev despite his assurance given on 1 May, had not taken down the video but only made it private, which could be viewed by the subscribers. However Ramdev's counsel submitted that the portions of the video would be taken down within 24 hours time granted by the court.
The Delhi High Court on 1 May, said Ramdev was "not in control of anyone" and "lived in his own world" as it held him in prima facie contempt of its order over his 'Sharbat Jihad' remarks against Hamdard's Rooh Afza, news agency PTI reported.
The court had previously, on April 22, ordered him to not issue any statement or share videos in future over Hamdard's products. The order came after the Delhi court was informed that Ramdev published a video making objectionable statements despite the order, PTI reported.
Justice Amit Bansal said, 'In view of the last order, his affidavit as well as this video are prima facie in contempt. I will issue a contempt notice now. We are just calling him here.'
Last month, The Delhi High Court on Tuesday slammed Patanjali Foods Ltd's owner Baba Ramdev for allegedly making communally-charged and disparaging remarks against the 119-year-old Hamdard National Foundation (India), the maker Rooh Afza.
Ramdev undertakes not to issue any statements regarding Rooh Afza in the future.
A single-judge bench of Justice Amit Bansal directed that a video featuring the yoga guru, wherein he allegedly made controversial references to Rooh Afza, targeting the drink as 'Sharbat Jihad', be taken down immediately.
The court's remarks came while hearing a plea filed by Hamdard, which accused Ramdev and Patanjali of making communal slurs against the company.
In the 3 April video, Ramdev is seen promoting Patanjali's 'Gulab Sharbat' while allegedly making indirect and communal remarks about Rooh Afza, suggesting that proceeds from its sales were used to fund 'madrasas and mosques'.
First Published: 2 May 2025, 12:48 PM IST
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