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Patanjali Ayurved cannot call others ‘Fraud’, Delhi HC warns in Ad row
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Tuesday, 11 November, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The Delhi High Court has taken a firm stand against controversial advertising practices by Patanjali, cautioning the company that while comparative claims are allowed, they cannot disparage rival products.
The case stems from an advertisement by Patanjali for its chyawanprash-product that featured the line “Chalo, dhoka khao” (Come on, eat deception) and claimed that “most people are eating fraud in the name of chyawanprash”. In the 25-second commercial, a voice-over accuses other brands of being deceptive, followed by a reference to “51 herbs. 1 truth. Patanjali Chyawanprash!”.
During the hearing, a bench led by Justice Tejas Karia pointedly asked how Patanjali could describe all other chyawanprash makers as “dhoka” (which literally means ‘fraud’ or ‘deception’). “You can claim you are the best, but you cannot call others ‘dhoka’,” the court said.
The rival company Dabur India Ltd., which holds over 60 per cent of the chyawanprash market, has challenged the advertisement on grounds of misleading claims and disparagement.
The court’s remarks underscore that comparative advertising must stay within permissible bounds: a brand may claim superiority, but cannot allege fraud or deception in competing brands without substantiation. The bench highlighted that using the word “ordinary” is permissible, but describing all others as “fraudulent” crosses the line.
The case has been posted for further hearing, and the court reserved its order on whether an interim injunction should be granted. For now, Patanjali has been directed to reconsider its language in future ads.
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