Delhi High Court directs Patanjali to pull down ad targeting Dabur Chyawanprash

In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has directed Patanjali Ayurved to withdraw its advertisement that allegedly targets Dabur Chyawanprash, India's leading chyawanprash brand. The order was issued by Justice Mini Pushkarna, who responded to a complaint filed by Dabur India, claiming that the advertisement by Patanjali was defamatory and misleading.

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The controversial advertisement featured Baba Ramdev, co-founder of Patanjali, questioning the authenticity of other chyawanprash products, stating that companies without true Ayurvedic knowledge cannot manufacture genuine chyawanprash. Dabur argued that this statement was indirectly aimed at their brand, which holds over 60% of the chyawanprash market in India.

Dabur’s legal team asserted that the ad portrayed their product as inferior and suggested that the company does not follow proper Ayurvedic principles. According to them, the commercial was not just misleading but also damaged the credibility of their brand, which has been a trusted household name for decades.

In response, the High Court found merit in Dabur’s arguments and ordered Patanjali Ayurved to take down the disputed advertisement. The court emphasized that while comparative advertising is legally permissible, it must not cross the line into disparagement or defamation.