Overview
- A single-judge bench of Justice Tejas Karia restrained Patanjali and its affiliates from broadcasting or publishing the commercial on television, print, OTT, digital, and social media, and ordered removal within 72 hours.
- The order held that calling rival chyawanprash products “dhoka” amounts to generic commercial disparagement and goes beyond permissible puffery.
- The court said advertising that is false, misleading, unfair or deceptive loses constitutional protection as commercial speech under Article 19(1)(a).
- Dabur, the category leader with about 61% market share, argued the ad misled consumers and damaged trust, and the court found a prima facie case in its favor.
- The injunction remains in force until the next hearing on February 26, 2026, reflecting continuing judicial scrutiny of Patanjali’s advertising following earlier restraints this year.