The Delhi High Court has restrained Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. from broadcasting, printing, or publishing its recent ‘Dhoka’ Chyawanprash advertisement, following a petition filed by Dabur India Ltd., which alleged that the commercial disparaged and misrepresented its Chyawanprash brand

Judge issued the interim order after Dabur argued that the Patanjali advertisement, which features the tagline “Dhoka hai ye Chyawanprash,” directly misleads consumers and damages the reputation of competing products, particularly Dabur Chyawanprash, which holds a dominant market position in the category.

The court observed that comparative advertising cannot denigrate rival brands or mislead consumers through insinuations or false claims, emphasizing that “freedom of commercial speech does not extend to defamatory or disparaging remarks.”

Patanjali has been directed to suspend the telecast and online circulation of the advertisement until further orders. The company has also been asked to file a response to Dabur’s plea within a stipulated period.

A spokesperson from Dabur welcomed the decision, stating that the brand has always maintained consumer trust through product authenticity and quality, and will continue to take appropriate legal measures against misleading marketing tactics.

This is not the first time Patanjali has faced legal scrutiny over advertising practices. The company has been previously warned by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and regulatory authorities for exaggerated or unverified claims about its products.

The case will next be heard on [next hearing date, if available], where the court is expected to review Patanjali’s reply and assess whether further injunctions or penalties are warranted.