Delhi HC Orders Patanjali to Halt ‘Dhoka’ Chyawanprash Ad After Dabur's Legal Plea

The Delhi High Court has issued an interim directive restraining Patanjali Ayurved Limited from broadcasting or publishing its recent Chyawanprash advertisement that labelled all other brands as “Dhoka” or deception. 

This move comes after Dabur India Ltd filed a legal plea contending that the commercial misrepresented its product and misled consumers.

Delhi HC Terms Ad as Product Category Disparagement

On November 11, 2025, Justice Tejas Karia of the Delhi High Court passed an interim order following Dabur's plea alleging Patanjali's ad tarnished the image of its Chyawanprash, which enjoys over 61% market share. 

The ad, featuring Baba Ramdev, claimed all other Chyawanprash variants to be misleading, urging viewers to use only Patanjali’s version. The Court held that such sweeping statements amounted to generic disparagement and harmed fair competition in the market.

Patanjali’s Defence and the Court’s Rejection

Patanjali, represented by Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, argued that the campaign was permissible advertisement puffery and not aimed specifically at Dabur. However, the Court disagreed, stating that the implication affected the entire category, with direct commercial consequences for Dabur and others. The term “Dhoka” on a public platform was considered misleading and damaging to established products.

Content Removal Ordered Within 72 Hours

The Court further directed Patanjali Ayurved and its affiliates to remove all forms of the impugned advertisement from public domains such as YouTube, Instagram, television, and other digital platforms within 72 hours. The content was deemed broadly derogatory and not in line with acceptable advertising standards.

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Main Hearing Scheduled for February 2026

The matter will be heard again on February 26, 2026. As per the interim order, Patanjali’s use of discriminatory language that undermines consumer trust in an entire product category violates principles of ethical advertising. The case outcome could have wider implications for comparative advertising practices moving forward.

Conclusion

The Delhi HC's intervention against Patanjali’s ‘Dhoka’ ad campaign marks a strong action in upholding fair competition and consumer protection. Dabur’s successful plea has underscored legal boundaries around disparagement and puffery in advertising.

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