Court sentences 3 to jail over Patanjali Soan Papdi quality test failure

In a significant verdict, a court in Uttarakhand has sentenced three individuals, including the assistant general manager of Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, to six months in jail. This ruling pertains to a case concerning the failure of Patanjali's Soan Papdi in a quality test, as stipulated under Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

The convicted individuals comprise Abhishek Kumar, Assistant General Manager at Patanjali Food and Herbal Park in Laksar; Ajay Joshi, Assistant Manager at Kanha Ji Distributor Private Limited in Ramnagar; and shopkeeper Leeladhar Pathak. Chief Magistrate of Pithoragarh, Sanjay Singh, pronounced this verdict.


Cardamom Soan Papdi samples failed the quality test
The case originated when samples of Patanjali Navratna Cardamom Soan Papdi collected from a shop in Berinag Market failed a quality test conducted in Rudrapur on September 17, 2019. Subsequently, a legal case was registered against the aforementioned trio. Soan Papdi is one of the most popular sweets in India and is widely circulated during the festivals.


Uttarakhand government rescinds ban on Patanjali medicines
Just days prior, the Uttarakhand government lifted its ban on 14 products from Patanjali Ayurveda and Divya Pharmacy. This decision followed an interim stay issued on Friday (May 17), after a high-level committee presented a preliminary investigation report. Secretary of the Ministry of AYUSH, Uttarakhand Government, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, confirmed the stay order. This move came after the government committee deemed the cancellation of the licenses as unlawful, stating that proper legal procedures were not followed.


Manufacturing license suspended last month
Just last month, on April 30, the Uttarakhand government also suspended the manufacturing licenses of 14 products from Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda and Divya Pharmacy. The ban was imposed due to the repeated dissemination of misleading advertisements about Patanjali Ayurveda products.

Here’s our detailed coverage of this ban…


The committee investigating the matter highlighted that the license suspension lacked adherence to legal procedures, leading to its cancellation. Consequently, the committee submitted its report to the Uttarakhand government, urging corrective action.

The court's ruling and the subsequent developments underscore the importance of stringent adherence to quality standards and legal procedures in ensuring consumer safety and regulatory compliance.