The Delhi High Court on Friday closed a defamation case against yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Foods Ltd after they submitted affidavits pledging not to make any further derogatory statements against the iconic beverage Rooh Afza, produced by Hamdard National Foundation India.
Justice Amit Bansal accepted the undertakings submitted by Ramdev and Patanjali, observing that the statements made in their affidavits would be binding on them. The court decreed the suit in favour of Hamdard and formally concluded the proceedings.
The case stemmed from allegations made by Hamdard that, while promoting Patanjali’s “gulab sharbat,” Ramdev had claimed that revenue from Rooh Afza was used to fund the construction of madrasas and mosques. The remarks, described by the court as “indefensible” and capable of shaking its conscience, triggered a legal battle over reputational harm and communal insinuations.
In an earlier hearing on April 22, the court had directed Ramdev and Patanjali to submit affidavits affirming they would refrain from making any similar statements or sharing disparaging content on social media or advertisements targeting competitors.
While the court had initially ordered the removal of the objectionable video from YouTube, Hamdard’s counsel pointed out that the video had merely been marked as private rather than deleted. The court later warned of contempt proceedings after fresh content allegedly violating the order surfaced.
Following the warning, Ramdev’s counsel assured the bench that the newly identified content would also be deleted within 24 hours and reiterated Ramdev’s “great respect for the court” and commitment to abide by its directions.
