Baba Ramdev‘s Patanjali Foods Limited has moved to the Bombay High Court after a YouTube video allegedly questioned the safety of its popular Nutrela Soya Chunks. The company has filed a commercial lawsuit against the YouTube channel Trustified Certification, calling the video “false and defamatory”.
The legal battle comes after multiple incidents where Patanjali has faced increased scrutiny over product quality and advertising claims. The company is now seeking heavy damages and urgent relief from the court.
Why Patanjali Has Gone To Court
Patanjali has demanded Rs 15.5 crore in damages, claiming the video caused serious harm to its reputation and brand image. The video titled “Nutrela Soya Chunks Lab Test Report II First Time on YouTube – Pass or Fail??” was uploaded in late December 2024.
In the video, the channel claimed that Nutrela Soya Chunks failed safety tests. It further alleged that the product crossed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s maximum residue limit for certain pesticides.
Patanjali has strongly denied these claims. In its lawsuit, the company said the allegations were “categorically false”. It maintained that Nutrela Soya Chunks meet all FSSAI norms and are backed by independent laboratory reports.
The company also sought an urgent injunction. It wants the video taken down immediately and aims to stop any further circulation of the content. Patanjali argued that allowing the video to stay online would cause “irreparable injustice” to its reputation.
The suit stated, “The impugned video was uploaded with the sole intention of maligning and exploiting the worldwide popularity achieved by the plaintiff.”
YouTube Channel Questions Urgency
As reported by Live Law, the legal hearing saw arguments from both sides. Appearing virtually, the lawyer for Trustified Certification questioned the urgency of the case.
The counsel told the court that the video was uploaded on December 29, 2024. He said Patanjali was aware of it by January 2025. Despite this, the company only sent a legal notice on March 4, 2025. The channel replied with a detailed response on March 10, 2025.
The lawyer argued, “Yet they only sent us a notice on March 4, 2025, to which we responded with our detailed reply on March 10, 2025. They did nothing thereafter and now decided to file this suit in December 2025. Therefore, there is no urgency and Section 12 (of the Commercial Courts Act) has not been followed.”
Patanjali’s lawyer (Prathamesh Kamat) pushed back. He urged the bench to hear the matter urgently, saying the company’s reputation was at stake.
After hearing both sides, the court posted the matter for further hearing on Monday.
Other Controversies Of Patanjali In Recent Times
This lawsuit adds to a growing list of challenges for Patanjali in 2025. The company was recently fined over cow ghee quality issues. It was also ordered to remove a Chyawanprash advertisement.
Patanjali Ayurved has also faced repeated legal trouble over misleading advertisements. In 2024, the Supreme Court initiated contempt proceedings after the company violated an undertaking to stop making claims about curing serious diseases.
The court had criticised the founders sharply. It said their apologies were “not worth the paper they were written on.” Patanjali was later forced to issue public apologies in national newspapers. Regulators also suspended licences for 14 products due to deceptive claims.
Earlier controversies include the launch of Coronil during COVID-19, which was promoted as a “cure”. The World Health Organisation later issued a clarification after Patanjali falsely claimed a WHO certification.
With the Nutrela case now before the Bombay High Court, Patanjali once again finds itself under the legal spotlight. The next hearing will decide whether the video stays online or is taken down.
