Acharya Balkrishna, co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved, has filed a personality rights lawsuit against Baba Ramdev before the Delhi High Court, citing a 2021 post by Supreme Court Advocate Avani Bansal. The post, which criticized Ramdev’s statements on allopathy during the second COVID-19 wave, was linked in the legal filings, according to medianama.com.
The lawsuit references a tweet by Avani Bansal from May 31, 2021, which condemned Ramdev’s remarks as fake news and disrespectful to doctors. Bansal’s post linked to her article in The Leaflet titled “Sorry, But Not Sorry! Baba Ramdev’s Statements Amount To Criminal Offence,” which analyzed legal provisions under the Indian Penal Code that could apply to Ramdev’s statements. Bansal confirmed on August 20 that X (formerly Twitter) notified her about the civil suit involving her account.
The case highlights ongoing legal scrutiny of public figures’ statements during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Ramdev’s comments on allopathy had sparked controversy, with legal experts examining potential violations under sections 505 (1) (b) and (c) of the Indian Penal Code. Balkrishna’s suit adds to the broader debate on misinformation and accountability in public discourse, particularly involving influential personalities in the health and wellness sector.
X’s notification to Avani Bansal about the lawsuit marks a rare instance of social media content being directly implicated in a personality rights case in India. The Delhi High Court is now set to examine the claims, with the legal proceedings expected to clarify the boundaries of free speech and defamation related to pandemic-related statements.