BABA RAMDEV'S PATANJALI LANDS IN FRESH TROUBLE AFTER GHEE FAILS QUALITY TEST

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his company Patanjali have courted another controversy after a sample of their ghee failed quality-control testing.

- TIKAM SHARMA

Following the test failure, the company is now facing substantial penalties imposed by a local court in Uttarakhand.

Both state and national laboratories confirmed irregularities in the sample, classifying it as adulterated, which led authorities to impose a cumulative fine of more than Rs 1.40 lakh on the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer involved.

However, Patanjali has strongly refuted the findings. According to the company, the case filed under the Food Safety Act and the subsequent court order are "incorrect" and "legally unsustainable". Patanjali has claimed that the retest was conducted after the sample's expiry date, rendering the result invalid as per law.

The company argued that the court passed an adverse order without considering key legal points. Patanjali also stated that it is filing an appeal before the Food Safety Tribunal and remains confident that the tribunal will overturn the judgement in their favour based on the merits of the case.

A message sent to the company seeking its version did not elicit any response.

The origins of the case go back to October 2020, when Senior Food Safety Officer Dilip Jain collected a ghee sample from Karan General Store in Kashni, Pithoragarh, during a routine inspection. Initial testing at the Government Laboratory in Rudrapur showed that the product failed to meet required standards and contained adulterants.

Patanjali Ayurved Limited challenged these findings, prompting authorities to send the sample to the National Laboratory in Ghaziabad for a conclusive analysis.

Sources indicate that the national lab also declared the sample substandard, strengthening the case against those involved in its sale and distribution.