Delhi High Court Bars Patanjali from Disparaging Dabur Chyawanprash Ads
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New Delhi, July 3, 2025 – In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court, presided by Justice Mini Pushkarna, issued an interim injunction on July 3, restraining Patanjali Ayurved from publishing or airing advertisements that disparage competitors—specifically targeting Dabur’s Chyawanprash.
Dabur’s petition highlighted that Patanjali’s ads falsely asserted their Chyawanprash was crafted with “51 herbs” compared to Dabur’s “40-herb” formulation, branding other variants as “ordinary” or unsafe for children. The ads suggested that Patanjali’s founder, Baba Ramdev, declared only those versed in Ayurvedic tradition could produce “original” Chyawanprash—implying Dabur’s product lacked authenticity.
Dabur countered that these statements misrepresented facts, defamed its product, and misled consumers, causing reputational harm. Patanjali, however, argued that the claims were promotional rather than defamatory, and that the advertisements did not explicitly name Dabur.
The court’s order mandates that Patanjali cease running such comparative ads until the case returns for the next hearing on July 14, 2025.
This is not the first time Patanjali has faced judicial rebuke over misleading claims. The Supreme Court previously reprimanded the company over disparaging comments against allopathic medicines and mandated public apologies in early 2024.
This ruling underscores growing regulatory scrutiny over competitive marketing tactics within the Ayurvedic and FMCG sectors, where courts are increasingly intervening to curb misleading and disparaging advertisements.
