Sharbat Jihad Row: Delhi HC Slams Ramdev Over New Rooh Afza Video: ‘Lives in His Own World’

Controversial yoga guru and Patanjali founder Ramdev on May 1 agreed to remove “offending portions” from a newly surfaced video criticized during a Delhi High Court hearing. The court had previously directed him to refrain from making derogatory remarks about Hamdard’s popular drink, Rooh Afza, following his controversial “sharbat jihad” comments.

During the hearing, Justice Amit Bansal warned Ramdev of contempt proceedings for non-compliance with the court’s April 22 order and recorded a fresh undertaking. The matter has now been posted for May 2 to review Ramdev’s compliance.

“Mr Nayyar, learned senior counsel for the defendant, submits on instructions that the specific portions of the impugned video referencing the plaintiff will be taken down. These have been identified.

But on Thursday, Hamdard’s counsel senior advocate Sandeep Sethi told the court that Ramdev had issued another video, that said the profits earned by Hamdard were being diverted for building madrassas, masjids and that they trusted Mughal’s Aurangzeb while Patanjali’s trust was in Lord Ram. Sethi also pointed out that Ramdev’s affidavit was silent on the undertaking ordered by the court.

Justice Bansal noted that the tone and tenor of the new video was similar to the old one.

“Para 18 was the requirement, he has not complied with that. The affidavit that you filed is prima facie contempt. He’s not in control of anyone and lives in his own world. The tone and tenor of the new video is exactly similar. You refer to Hamdard… The money goes to…. Where have you complied with Para 18? According to my seeing, of the video and the affidavit, both are non compliant,” justice Bansal said, posting the matter for further hearing later in the day while hearing a trademark infringement case filed by Hamdard’s Rooh Afza.