Baba Ramdev apologises to SC, Court warns of perjury proceedings

In a contempt case where the personal appearance of Patanjali’s Managing Director (MD) Acharya Balakrishna and Baba Ramdev was directed, the Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on both parties. Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved’s managing director Acharya Balkrishna appeared before the apex court and issued an unconditional apology to the apex court for not complying with its order in the misleading advertisements case.

“Requesting the court to note my presence and unconditional apology,” Ramdev’s counsel said. However, the Court described the apology as “perfunctory” and refused to accept the same, it also described the acts of Baba Ramdev post the undertaking given to be in absolute defiance of the apex court’s order.

The Supreme Court later allowed one more opportunity to Baba Ramdev to file his response to the alleged contempt proceedings. It also termed his unconditional apology in person to be “lip service”.

The Court noted that Baba Ramdev’s affidavit was not on record and made it clear that the matter has to be taken to its logical conclusion. Senior Advocate Balbir Singh, who appeared for Baba Ramdev, submitted that the parties were physically present today and ready to apologize in person.

However, this submissin did not appeal to the Court which said that if the parties wanted to apologize, then they should have filed proper affidavits.