The Supreme Court has purged Baba Ramdev and Patanjali group products managing director Balkrishna of contempt proceedings in view of their unconditional apologies for misleading advertisements over the company’s claim of panacea for various incurable ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and asthma.

The court, however, warned that “ensuing consequences could indeed be grave” if Patanjali repeated its actions.

“Given the attendant facts and circumstances of the case and the effort made by the proposed contemnors to absolve themselves of acts that amounted to breach of undertakings given to this Court, we are inclined to accept the apology tendered by them and close the matter. At the same time, they are cautioned to strictly abide by the terms of their undertakings.

“Any future intransigence on their part, whether by act, deed or speech that could tantamount to violating the orders of the Court or dishonouring the terms of the undertakings, shall be viewed strictly and the ensuing consequences could indeed be grave. In that eventuality, the sword of contempt that has now been returned to rest in its sheath, shall be flourished as swiftly as these proceedings were originally initiated.

“With the aforesaid orders, the present proceedings are closed and the notice to show cause issued to the proposed contemnors is discharged,” a bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah said in a judgment pronounced on Tuesday.

The bench passed the verdict while disposing of a contempt petition filed by the Indian Medication Association (IMA), accusing Ramdev and Balakrishna of indulging in a campaign of misinformation and disparagement against the modern system of medicine in an orchestrated and systematic manner resulting in misleading the common man.

The IMA had claimed that they were forced to move the top court as despite lodging multiple complaints and submitting several representations to the Centre and the state authorities, no concrete action was taken against the duo.