The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned Patanjali Ayurved for using the word “dhoka” —meaning fraud or deception—in its latest chyawanprash advertisement, asking how the company could describe rival products in such a manner.

Justice Tejas Karia, hearing a plea filed by Dabur India seeking an interim injunction against Patanjali’s “disparaging” commercial, observed that while comparative advertising is permitted, denigrating other products is not. “You can claim that you are the best, but you cannot call others ‘dhoka’, which in English means fraud and deception,” the judge remarked orally. The court reserved its order.

Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for Dabur India, argued that Patanjali’s 25-second advertisement—titled “51 Herbs. 1 Truth. Patanjali Chyawanprash!” —por

See Full Page