‘Indefensible’: Delhi HC slams Ramdev for ‘Sharbat Jihad’ remark

New Delhi, April 22, 2025

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday, April 22, slammed Baba Ramdev for his controversial “Sharbat Jihad” comments allegedly aimed at Hamdard and its popular drink Rooh Afza.

“It shocks the conscience of court. Indefensible,” marked Justice Amit Bansal. Hamdard Laboratories had moved to Delhi High Court in response to the Patanjali founders’ recent contentious statements. The company accused him of making defamatory and communal statements targeting its product.

“If you drink that sharbat, madrasas and mosques will be built.”

On April 3, while promoting his company’s new product- Gulaab Sharbat, Ramdev allegedly targeted the rival company. He claimed that Hamdard was using its money to build masjids and madrasas.

“There’s a company that gives you sharbat, but the money it earns is used to construct madrasas and mosques,” he alleged. 

He further said that gurukuls will be built if people chose Patanjali’s sharbats instead. 

“If you drink that sharbat, madrasas and mosques will be built. But if you drink this [referring to Patanjali’s rose sharbat], gurukuls will be built, Acharya Kulam will be developed, Patanjali University will expand, and the Bharatiya Shiksha Board will grow.”

He also used the term ‘sharbat jihad’ in the viral video.

“Just like there is love jihad, this is also a kind of sharbat jihad. To protect yourself from this sharbat jihad, this message must reach everyone.”

“We have enough problems in this country…”

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Hamdard, told the High Court that Ramdev is making attacks on the religious affiliations of the company’s owners.

“This is a case which is shocking, which goes beyond disparagement. This is a case of creating communal divide, akin to hate speech. It will not have protection from law of defamation,” he said.

He further stated that such comments should not be permitted for a moment. Rohatgi noted that the country already faces enough problems. The Court was also informed that Ramdev had made similar allegations against Himalaya, as its owners are Muslim, according to Bar and Bench.

Patanjali has previously been involved in several high-profile disputes stemming from its advertising practices. Over the past two years, the company has faced numerous legal challenges.

The situation escalated nationwide after the Indian Medical Association (IMA) filed a complaint against Patanjali Ayurved, prompting the Supreme Court to impose a temporary ban on its advertising and issue contempt notices due to alleged misleading claims.

“A hard hand is required to nip this in bud,” Rohatgi argued about the present case.

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