The Delhi High Court on Tuesday came down heavily against Patanjali founder Baba Ramdev for using communal slurs to target pharmaceutical and food company Hamdard, and its popular drink Rooh Afza.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Amit Bansal, after conducting a a preliminary hearing in a suit filed by Hamdard against Patanjali and Ramdev, directed the counsel appearing for Ramdev to remain present after seeking instructions.
Calling the remarks indefensible, which shook the conscience of the court, the single-judge Bench warned Ramdev of passing a strong order against him.
While promoting his company’s beverage Gulaab Sharbat on April 3, the yoga guru claimed that Hamdard was using its money for building masjids and madrasas. He also used the term ‘sharbat jihad’ during the promotional video.
As per media reports, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh filed a police complaint against Ramdev last week in Bhopal for allegedly promoting religious hatred.
A leading English daily later reported that Ramdev defended his remark by saying he had not named any specific brand in his video.
Appearing for Hamdard, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi apprised the single-judge Bench today that Ramdev was going unabated against Hamdard and attacking the religion of the company’s owners.
Terming the case shocking, the Senior Counsel said the comments attempted to create a communal divide, much like hate speech, which went beyond disparagement, and should not have protection from the law of defamation.
Noting that the country was already dealing with enough problems, Rohatgi said that such videos should not be allowed even for a moment.
A hard hand was required to nip this in bud, he added.
As per the Senior Counsel, Ramdev had earlier attacked another company named Himalaya since it was also owned by a Muslim.
Noting that Ramdev had earlier faced strictures from the Supreme Court for targeting allopathy, Rohatgi, however, conceded on a lighter note that before the Apex Court, he had appeared on the ‘wrong’ side.
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