Delhi HC restrains Patanjali from airing ads disparaging Dabur Chyawanprash

The Delhi High Court has passed an interim order directing Patanjali Ayurved to take down advertisements allegedly disparaging Dabur’s Chyawanprash product, as per media reports.

The order was passed by Justice Mini Pushkarna in response to a suit filed by Dabur, which accused Patanjali of airing misleading and defamatory content targeting its flagship Chyawanprash offering.

According to reports, the controversy stems from a Patanjali advertisement featuring founder Baba Ramdev, wherein he questions the authenticity of other Chyawanprash products in the market. The ad reportedly includes the line: “Jinko Ayurved aur Vedo ka gyaan nahi, Charak, Sushrut, Dhanwantari aur Chyawanrishi ke Parampara mei ‘original’ Chyawanprash kaise bana payenge?”

Dabur is said to have objected to references in the ad that term a “40-herb” Chyawanprash as “ordinary” — a description it claims directly targets its own product, which is promoted as being made with “40+ herbs.” Dabur holds a dominant market share of over 60% in the Chyawanprash segment.

As per the plea, Dabur argued that the ad amounted to threefold disparagement — misrepresenting Patanjali’s own product formulation, casting doubt on Dabur’s Ayurvedic authenticity, and positioning Dabur’s Chyawanprash as inferior.

It was also submitted that such messaging could mislead consumers and damage trust in Ayurvedic health products that are regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Chyawanprash, being a classical Ayurvedic medicine, is subject to stringent regulatory formulations based on ancient texts, Dabur reportedly argued.

The company also flagged that the Patanjali advertisement implies potential health risks from consuming non Patanjali products, raising concerns about public safety.

Reports further state that Dabur referenced prior contempt proceedings against Patanjali in the Supreme Court over similar advertising tactics, alleging a pattern of repeated violations.