Delhi High Court Questions Patanjali Over ‘Dhokha’ Remark in Chyawanprash Ad, Reserves Order on Dabur’s Plea

New Delhi, November 2, 2025 — The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned Patanjali Ayurved for using the word “dhokha” (meaning “fraud” or “deception”) to describe other chyawanprash brands in its recent advertisement campaign. The court remarked that while a company can promote its own product, it cannot disparage competitors.

Justice Tejas Karia, hearing a plea filed by Dabur India, asked Patanjali’s counsel, “You can claim that you are the best, but you cannot call others ‘dhokha,’ which in the English dictionary means fraud and deception.”

The bench has reserved its order on Dabur’s plea seeking an interim injunction against Patanjali’s allegedly disparaging advertisement titled “51 Herbs. 1 Truth. Patanjali Chyawanprash!” The 25-second commercial features a woman telling her child, “Chalo dhokha khao,” followed by Baba Ramdev’s statement, “Adhikansh log Chyawanprash ke naam par dhokha kha rahe hain” (“Most people are being deceived in the name of Chyawanprash”).

Appearing for Patanjali, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar argued that the word “dhokha” was not intended to mean “fraud,” but rather to indicate that other brands are “ordinary” or less effective. “When I say ‘dhokha,’ I mean to say that I am special and others are ordinary,” he said, claiming it was a form of comparative advertising, not defamation.

However, Dabur’s counsel, senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, contended that the advertisement went beyond comparative marketing and sought to malign rival products, adding that Baba Ramdev was “trying to create a communal divide only to sell his products.”

The court emphasized that advertisements can make claims of superiority but cannot label competing products with terms implying deception. The judgment has been reserved and is expected to set important guidelines for comparative advertising in India’s FMCG sector.