The Delhi High Court is still deciding whether Dabur can block Patanjali Ayurved’s latest Chyawanprash ad. The case focuses on a 25‑second commercial that critics say calls other Chyawanprash brands “dhoka” – a Hindi word that means fraud or trick.
During the hearing, a single‑judge bench led by Justice Tejas Karia questioned Patanjali’s strategy. “You can say other products are inferior,” he said, “but you can’t brand them all as fraud. Why use the word ‘dhoka’ for every Chyawanprash?” The judge highlighted how the insult could mislead consumers who trust Baba Ramdev’s reputation.
Dabur, which controls more than 60 % of the Chyawanprash market, filed a claim against Patanjali for generic disparagement, defamation, and unfair competition. In the complaint, the company credited the ad’s big impact—over nine crore views in just five days—and argued that the phrase “most people are eating fraud in the name of Chyawanprash” could damage its brand.
Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, speaking for Dabur, said the statement unfairly paint the entire product class as deceitful. He pointed out that every licensed Chyawanprash producer must follow statutory Ayurveda formulations, making the claim without basis.
Patanjali’s lawyer, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, defended the marketing. “Dhoka is a claim of widespread annoyance,” he said. “I am simply saying my product is better; that is my right.”
Justice Karia again cautioned, “It’s one thing to say a product is inferior; it’s another to call it fraud.” He urged the court to pick carefully any words that could hurt a competitor’s reputation.
After hearing both sides, the Delhi High Court did not yet give an order and has reserved its decision. If denied, Dabur could see the ad removed or paid compensations.
The dispute follows earlier backlash over Patanjali founder Baba Ramdev’s controversial videos linking a popular drink to “Sharbat Jihad.” Those videos drew criticism from the Delhi High Court, which called the content shocking to conscience and asked for it to be taken down.
The final ruling on Dabur’s interim injunction plea is expected to be announced soon, and it could set a precedent for how big Ayurvedic brands handle advertising claims in India.
Source: ianslive
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