Latest news with #SharbatJihad
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'Sharbat Jihad' row: Delhi HC closes suit against Ramdev, Patanjali (Lead)
HighlightsThe Delhi High Court closed a suit by Hamdard Laboratories seeking the removal of Baba Ramdev's controversial videos that linked the company's drink Rooh Afza with 'Sharbat Jihad'. Baba Ramdev's counsel agreed to remove objectionable videos after the court warned of contempt proceedings against him for violating previous undertakings. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Hamdard, emphasized that videos promoting communal slurs should not be permitted, referring to past controversies involving Ramdev's misleading advertisements. The Delhi High Court on Friday closed a suit filed by pharmaceutical and food company Hamdard seeking the removal of Patanjali founder Baba Ramdev's controversial videos purportedly linking the company's popular drink Rooh Afza with 'Sharbat Jihad'. A single-judge Bench of Justice Amit Bansal took note of the affidavit filed by Yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali stating that the objectionable videos have been pulled down from all social media platforms. Last week, the Justice Bansal-led Bench reprimanded Ramdev after it was apprised that he has posted another objectionable video against Hamdard despite his previous undertaking that he would not issue such statements, advertisements and social media posts in future. Remarking that the fresh video was prima facie contemptuous, the Delhi High Court had indicated that it would issue a contempt notice to Ramdev, apart from seeking his presence. Anticipating an adverse order, Ramdev's counsel agreed before the Justice Bansal-led Bench to pull down the objectionable portions within 24 hours on all social media platforms. Ramdev, while promoting Patanjali's 'Gulab Sharbat', claimed that Rooh Afza's parent company, Hamdard, was using its gains to build mosques and madrasas. Later, he defended his speech, saying that he did not mention any brand or community. In an earlier hearing on Hamdard's application seeking an injunction concerning a previous video of Ramdev in which he had reportedly linked Rooh Afza with 'Sharbat Jihad', the Delhi HC had slammed the Yoga guru for using communal slurs. "It shocks the conscience of the court. This is indefensible," Justice Bansal had said. After the Delhi HC signalled passing a strong order, Ramadev's counsel agreed to pull down the controversial video and advertisements. It had asked Ramdev to file an undertaking on affidavit that he would not issue such statements, advertisements and social media posts in future, posting the matter for further hearing on May 1. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Hamdard, said that such videos should not be allowed "even for a moment", adding that Ramdev had earlier attacked herbal health company Himalaya because it is also owned by a Muslim. Rohatgi referred to the contempt proceedings initiated by the Supreme Court against Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved's Managing Director, Acharya Balakrishna, over the continued publication of misleading advertisements and targeting allopathy. In August last year, the duo was discharged of contempt of court notice in view of the apology tendered personally before the apex court and the public apology published by Patanjali in leading newspapers
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Baba Ramdev gives undertaking to Delhi High Court on controversial video against rival brand
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Friday (May 2, 2025) gave an undertaking in the Delhi High Court that he will not issue any disparaging statement or publish on social media, posts similar to his 'sharbat jihad' remark against Hamdard's Rooh Afza. The court asked Mr. Ramdev's counsel to file an affidavit during the day. A similar undertaking was also tendered by Mr. Ramdev's Patanjali Foods Ltd. The court passed the order while dealing with a lawsuit by Hamdard National Foundation India against Mr. Ramdev and his Patanjali Foods Ltd over the controversial remarks. Hamdard claimed while promoting Patanjali's 'gulab sharbat', Mr. Ramdev alleged that the money earned from Hamdard's Rooh Afza was used to build madrasas and mosques. Last week, after the court slammed Ramdev over his remarks allegedly targeting Hamdard's popular drink Rooh Afza as 'Sharbat Jihad', the yoga guru had agreed to immediately take down all related videos. The court had then described Mr. Ramdev's video as 'indefensible' and 'shocking' to the conscience of the court. On Friday, Hamdard's counsel said instead of taking down the objectionable video from the YouTube platform, the defendant had only made it private. Mr. Ramdev's counsel, on the other hand, said he had 'great respect for the court' and its directions would be complied with. The court then posted the matter on May 9.
Mint
02-05-2025
- Mint
No more remarks against Hamdard's Rooh Afza, Yoga guru Ramdev assures Delhi HC amid 'Sharbat Jihad' row
'Sharbat Jihad' row: Yoga guru Ramdev has pledged before the Delhi High Court that he will not issue statements, make social media posts, disparaging videos or advertisements containing communal slurs in the future against 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 through an affidavit on May 2. Bansal is seeking the disposal of the case, according to legal news website LiveLaw. The court has fixed May 9 as the next date of hearing in the case. During the hearing on May 2, Hamdard's counsel submitted that Ramdev, despite his assurance given on May 1, had not taken down the 'Sharbat Jihad' 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 May 1 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 on April 22 ordered him not to issue any statements or share videos in the future about Hamdard's products. The order came after the Delhi court was informed that Ramdev published a video making objectionable statements despite the order, news agency PTI reported. 'Let an affidavit be also placed on record by both the defendant no.1 and defendant no.2 stating that defendants no.1 and 2 shall not issue any statements, social media posts or disparaging videos/advertisements in future similar to those which are subject matter of the present suit in respect of products of the competitors,' the HC court on April 22, according to legal news website Bar and Bench. 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 of 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 about 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.
Mint
02-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
'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
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ramdev gives undertaking to Delhi HC on removing controversial video clips
Yoga practitioner and Patanjali founder Ramdev on Friday took an undertaking before the Delhi high court that he will take down all social media posts and/or disparaging videos/advertisements in future regarding Hamdard's popular drink RoohAfza. Ramdev's counsel Rajiv Nayyar submitted before a bench of justice Amit Bansal that the same would be filed in the court by way of an affidavit during the day, in compliance of the April 22 directive and sought for disposal of the suit, filed by Hamdard against Patanjali and Ramdev. On April 22, following the high court's reprimand, Ramdev had assured that he would immediately take down the videos, social media posts related to his 'Sharbat Jihad' comment. He was directed to file an affidavit within five days undertaking not to issue any statements, social media posts or disparaging videos/advertisements in future similar to those which are subject matter of the present suit in respect of products of the competitors. Taking note of the submissions, the court fixed May 9 as the next date of the hearing. 'Mr Nayar submits that the defendants are willing to file an undertaking in terms of paragraph 18 of the order dated April 22. Copy of the affidavit has been given to the counsel for the plaintiff. Let the same be filed during the course of the day. List on May 9,' the court said in its order. Also Read:'Lives in his own world': Delhi HC raps Ramdev after new Rooh Afza video At its April 22 hearing, the bench reprimanded Ramdev for his offensive videos against Hamdard's popular drink Rooh Afza on a suit filed by Hamdard Laboratories, ordered him to take down these videos and ordered him to give an undertaking that he won't put out such videos or statements again. But on Thursday, Hamdard's counsel senior advocate Sandeep Sethi told the court that Ramdev had issued another video, that said the profits earned by Hamdard were being diverted for building madrassas, masjids and that they trusted Mughal's Aurangzeb while Patanjali's trust was in Lord Ram. Sethi also pointed out that Ramdev's affidavit was silent on the undertaking ordered by the court. Justice Bansal noted that the tone and tenor of the new video was similar to the old one. 'Para 18 was the requirement, he has not complied with that. The affidavit that you filed is prima facie contempt. He's not in control of anyone and lives in his own world. The tone and tenor of the new video is exactly similar. You refer to Hamdard… The money goes to…. Where have you complied with Para 18? According to my seeing, of the video and the affidavit, both are non compliant,' justice Bansal said, posting the matter for further hearing later in the day while hearing a trademark infringement case filed by Hamdard's Rooh Afza. Sethi said Ramdev had consciously chosen to not give an undertaking in the affidavit and instead uploaded a new video to create communal divide between consumers to lead them to choose Patanjali's products. The new video already had 90,000 views and 22,000 comments. 'He does not 'consciously comply with the order,' and 'comes up with a new video,' the counsel said. Nayyar, however, insisted that Ramdev had complied with the order by mentioning in his affidavit that he was a 'law abiding citizen' and 'respected all religion' and had the fundamental right to free speech for comparing competitor's products. Nayyar further submitted that the subsequent video did not disparage Hamdard's products, had already complied with the take down order and the court could not pass a gag order.
