Court expresses strong disapproval over communal undertone in Baba Ramdev’s comments on Hamdard’s iconic drink
The Delhi High Court came down heavily on Patanjali founder Baba Ramdev for making communally charged remarks against Hamdard’s Rooh Afza during a promotional video for his brand’s Gulaab Sharbat.
Presiding over a civil suit filed by Hamdard National Foundation against Patanjali Foods and Ramdev, Justice Amit Bansal called the comments “indefensible” and said they “shock the conscience of the court.” The Court also sought instructions from Ramdev’s legal team and directed his counsel to appear before it in person.
Ramdev’s controversial video, dated April 3, suggested that Hamdard, the maker of Rooh Afza, was diverting its profits towards religious institutions such as mosques and madrasas. In the same video, he coined the term “sharbat jihad,” drawing widespread criticism.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Hamdard, argued that Ramdev’s remarks went far beyond mere product disparagement and veered into hate speech. “This is not just defamation—it is a deliberate attempt to sow communal discord. Such statements have no protection under the law,” Rohatgi said.
He also informed the Court that similar allegations were made against Himalaya, another company with Muslim ownership, and that Ramdev had previously received Supreme Court censure for his derogatory comments against allopathic medicine.
“There are already enough problems in the country. This kind of video should not be allowed to remain online even for a second,” Rohatgi asserted, urging the Court to take firm action.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has also filed a police complaint in Bhopal against Ramdev for allegedly inciting communal tension. While Ramdev later claimed he hadn’t named any specific brand in his video, the High Court appeared unconvinced.
Justice Bansal indicated that a strong judicial response may be forthcoming, underlining the severity of the matter.
