Baba Ramdev, Balkrishna may appear before Supreme Court today

The Supreme Court summoned Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna on Tuesday, seeking a response from them as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against Patanjali. The court also sought a response from the company for violating its orders prohibiting advertisements claiming to cure diseases and discrediting modern medicine.

In February, a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah sought a response from Baba Ramdev and his associate over why the court's previous order was violated. The apex court noted that the advertisements issued by Patanjali, featuring Ramdev's face, were in direct violation of the company's past undertakings.

The court order, quoted by Hindustan Times, says, "Having gone through the advertisements issued by respondent Patanjali, in teeth of the undertaking given to this court and noticing the said advertisement by Acharya Ramdev, it is deemed appropriate to show cause why contempt proceedings not be initiated against him under the Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975. He has also violated provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954."