SC rejects apology: Baba Ramdev gave non-existing flight ticket to avoid appearance

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the second apology filed by Patanjali Ayurved and its Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna in the contempt case over the publication of misleading medical advertisements.

The bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanudding Amanullah refused to accept the affidavit filed by Patanjali and its MD expressing “unconditional and unqualified apology” for airing the advertisements in breach of an undertaking given to the apex court. The Court also refused to accept the apology affidavit filed by Patanjali co-founder Baba Ramdev as well, who is also facing contempt proceedings.

The bench told Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, Patanjali’s lawyer, that the affidavit is merely “on the paper” and warned that they should be ready to face penal action for violation of the undertaking.

“Apology is on paper. Their back is against the wall. We decline to accept this, we consider it a deliberate violation of undertaking. Be ready for something next to rejection of affidavit,” Justice Kohli told Rohatgi. When Rohatgi said, “people make mistakes”, Justice Kohli retorted, “Then they suffer. We don’t want to be so generous in this case.”

“Why should we not treat your apology with the same disdain as shown to court undertaking? We are not convinced. Now going to turn down this apology,” Justice Kohli said.