New Delhi—Baba Ramdev, the yoga guru turned business mogul, has agreed to yank all videos and ads slamming Rooh Afza, the iconic rose-flavored drink, after a sharp rebuke from the Delhi High Court. The decision, announced on April 22, 2025, caps a fiery legal spat that erupted when Ramdev’s comments about “sharbat jihad” sparked outrage and a lawsuit from Hamdard, the company behind the beloved beverage.
The trouble kicked off earlier this month when Ramdev, promoting his Patanjali brand’s rose sharbat, took a swipe at Rooh Afza. In a video posted on April 3, he claimed profits from Hamdard’s drink were funneled into building mosques and madrasas—a jab that didn’t just ruffle feathers but set off a full-blown storm. Hamdard, a household name for over a century, wasn’t having it. They hauled Ramdev and Patanjali to court, accusing them of defamation and stirring communal tension.
In a packed courtroom, Justice Amit Bansal didn’t mince words. Ramdev’s “sharbat jihad” remark, the judge said, was indefensible, a gut-punch to basic decency. Hamdard’s legal team argued the comments weren’t just about trashing a product—they were a dangerous dog whistle, hinting at religious division. The court, clearly unimpressed, gave Ramdev five days to file a sworn promise: no more ads, posts, or videos targeting Rooh Afza or Hamdard. Ramdev’s lawyer, Rajiv Nayar, didn’t fight it. He told the court the offending material—print, video, all of it—would disappear.
This isn’t Ramdev’s first brush with controversy. The self-styled guru, whose Patanjali empire spans everything from toothpaste to noodles, has a knack for headlines, often the wrong kind. His latest stunt drew fire beyond the courtroom. On April 15, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh filed a police complaint in Bhopal, accusing Ramdev of peddling hate speech. Ramdev, scrambling to defend himself, claimed he never named Rooh Afza or any community directly. The court wasn’t buying it.
Hamdard, for its part, stayed focused on the damage. Rooh Afza, a staple in homes across India and beyond, isn’t just a drink—it’s a cultural touchstone, sipped during Ramadan, weddings, or just a blistering summer day. The company argued Ramdev’s words weren’t just a cheap shot at their brand but a reckless attack on their legacy, tied to the Muslim community by his rhetoric.
As of April 22, Ramdev’s team confirmed they’d started pulling the ads. The court’s order was clear: any future jabs at Rooh Afza or Hamdard are off-limits. The affidavit, due within days, will lock in that promise. Meanwhile, the case has lit up debates about free speech, religious sensitivity, and the line between marketing and malice. For now, though, Ramdev’s backing down, and Rooh Afza stays in the spotlight—not for “jihad,” but for its familiar, syrupy sweetness.