On Friday, the Delhi High Court issued notices to Baba Ramdev and Patanjali's Divya Pharmacy following a petition that claims the herbal tooth powder Divya Dant Manjan, marketed as vegetarian, actually contains non-vegetarian ingredients.

The petition, lodged by advocate Yatin Sharma, alleges that although the packaging of the product displays a green dot, indicating it is vegetarian, the ingredient list includes Sepia officinalis (common cuttlefish). The case is set for further hearing on November 28.

The petition emphasized that "Divya Dant Manjan," manufactured by Divya Pharmacy, is prominently featured and available for purchase on the official Patanjali website. The product is labeled with a distinctive green dot, which is meant to signify its vegetarian status.

The petition noted that the petitioner and their family, long-time users of "Divya Dant Manjan" due to its promotion as a vegetarian and plant-based Ayurvedic product, recently discovered that it contains "Samudraphen (Sepia officinalis)," derived from cuttlefish bone. This revelation is especially distressing for the petitioner and their family, who come from a Brahmin background where the consumption of non-vegetarian ingredients is strictly against their religious beliefs and sentiments.

The petition described the petitioner and their family's deep hurt and shock upon realizing they had been unknowingly consuming a non-vegetarian ingredient for an extended period.

It emphasized the need for judicial intervention to address the alleged lapse by the respondents in the production and promotion of "Divya Dant Manjan," which is claimed to contain non-vegetarian ingredients.

The petition also highlighted that Baba Ramdev admitted in a YouTube video that "Samudra fen," used in the product, is animal-based, despite the product being marketed as vegetarian with a green dot on its packaging. The petitioner sought redress for the distress caused by the unintentional consumption of a non-vegetarian product and stressed the importance of transparency and adherence to religious beliefs.

"The gravity and effectiveness of the court's order are seriously questioned in this matter, highlighting the need for urgent judicial intervention. The persistent disregard for the court's directives calls for decisive action to ensure compliance and uphold the integrity of the legal system," the plea mentioned.