The Delhi High Court on Thursday restrained Patanjali Ayurved from running advertisements allegedly disparaging the Chyavanprash product of Dabur India Limited, granting interim relief to Dabur in an ongoing legal battle over misleading claims.
Justice Mini Pushkarna, while pronouncing the order, allowed two interim applications filed by Dabur, observing that the advertisements in question amounted to prima facie disparagement of Dabur’s product. The Court stated: “Applications are allowed.” A detailed written order is awaited. The case is next listed for hearing before the roster bench on July 14.
The dispute dates back to December last year, when Dabur filed a suit against Patanjali and sought an injunction against advertisements claiming superiority of Patanjali’s Chyavanprash. In its fresh application, Dabur alleged that after summons were issued, Patanjali escalated the campaign, running 6,182 advertisements in one week, portraying Dabur’s product as inferior.
Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Dabur, argued that Patanjali’s ads claimed it used over 51 herbs, while Dabur used only 40–47 herbs, and further called Dabur’s product “ordinary” to suggest it was not authentic. Sethi also alleged that Patanjali’s formulation contained mercury, making it unfit for children.
On the other hand, Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta, appearing for Patanjali, denied these claims and asserted that Patanjali’s ingredients adhered to prescribed formulations and were safe for consumption.
The case, titled Dabur India Limited v. Patanjali Ayurved, raises important questions about comparative advertising and misleading claims in India’s competitive FMCG sector.