In the Patanjali case, the Supreme Court strongly criticizes Baba Ramdev, alleging that he has committed perjury.

In a significant development regarding the Patanjali case, the Supreme Court has delivered a scathing rebuke against Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved, accusing them of committing perjury. The court's strong criticism was directed towards an apology made by Patanjali, where it claimed that its media wing was unaware of the court's directives to cease disseminating misleading advertisements. The apex court also expressed dissatisfaction with the Union government's inaction regarding Patanjali's blatant promotion of misleading advertisements suggesting cures for COVID-19.

During the hearing on Tuesday, April 2, a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah considered a contempt petition filed against Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved's Managing Director, Acharya Balkrishna. This petition stemmed from a smear campaign initiated by Ramdev against doctors, modern medicine, and the COVID-19 vaccination drive in 2021. Ramdev had controversially labeled modern medicine as a "scam" while Patanjali was actively promoting its products as COVID-19 cures.

The Supreme Court had previously warned Patanjali to refrain from making misleading claims about its products offering cures for diseases. Despite this warning, Patanjali continued to disregard the court's orders. In March of the same year, the company issued an apology for breaching the court's directives and pledged to rectify its actions. However, the court criticized Patanjali harshly for its apology, stating that it was not genuine and merely perfunctory.

Justice Kohli expressed disbelief at Patanjali's claim that its media department was unaware of the court's directions. She emphasized that Patanjali had violated its solemn undertaking to the court with impunity. Refusing to accept the apology, she questioned the sincerity behind it and demanded a valid reason for its acceptance.

The bench also admonished the Union government for failing to take effective action against Patanjali. It suggested that Patanjali would not have boldly flouted the court's orders without tacit approval during the COVID-19 lockdown. Justice Kohli highlighted the critical nature of the situation during the pandemic and criticized the lack of public awareness regarding the actual efficacy of Patanjali's products.

Moreover, the court cast doubt on the authenticity of Patanjali's submitted documents, suggesting that they may have been fabricated after the fact. This led the court to conclude that Patanjali was potentially lying to the court, indicating a clear case of perjury.

Baba Ramdev faced further criticism for holding a press conference shortly after the Supreme Court cautioned Patanjali against publishing misleading advertisements. This action demonstrated a blatant disregard for the court's authority and further exacerbated the already tense situation.

Overall, the Supreme Court's strong stance against Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved reflects the seriousness with which it views violations of its directives and the dissemination of false information, particularly during critical public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.