NEW DELHI: FMCG segment leader Dabur approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, alleging that Patanjali Ayurved has been running advertisements that disparage its Chyawanprash products. Dabur urged the court to immediately restrain Patanjali from continuing with these ads, which they claim harm their reputation and mislead consumers.
Justice Mini Pushkarna, presiding over the case, issued a notice to Patanjali and scheduled the matter for hearing in the last week of January. Initially, the court considered referring the dispute to mediation, but after Dabur pressed for urgent relief, Justice Pushkarna decided to proceed with hearing the case directly.
Dabur’s grievance centered on an advertisement featuring Patanjali founder Swami Ramdev. In the ad, Ramdev questioned the authenticity of other Chyawanprash brands, stating, “How can those without knowledge of Ayurveda and Vedic traditions create an ‘original’ Chyawanprash?” This statement, Dabur claims, implies that only Patanjali’s Chyawanprash is authentic, while other brands, including Dabur’s, are “ordinary” and inauthentic.
Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, representing Dabur, argued that Patanjali has a history of making such claims, citing a Supreme Court contempt petition filed against the company earlier this year. He emphasised that labelling other Chyawanprash as “ordinary” not only misleads consumers but also undermines the credibility of the entire category of Ayurvedic Chyawanprash products.
Sibal referred to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which mandates that all Chyawanprash formulations adhere to ancient Ayurvedic texts. He said the advertisement creates a false narrative, misleading consumers about the safety and efficacy of non-Patanjali brands. The ad raises public health concerns by insinuating that alternative brands may not meet the required standards.