MUMBAI: It was a bit of a marketing blasphemy. And, Patanjali Ayurved's advertisements have hit a legal hurdle.

Telecast of Patanjali’s two product ads which allegedly disparaged HUL and Dabur's brands have been stopped by high courts in India.

The Delhi court ordered Patanjali to stop telecasting TV ads for its soaps. The decision came after Reckitt Benckiser complained it had allegedly disparaged Dettol brand.

After the Bombay High Court restrained the baba's company from advertising its soap brand, which allegedly disparaged competitor Hindustan Unilever's brands, the Delhi High Court passed an injunction against Patanjali's chyawanprash commercial. Patanjali ad had made direct attacks on Lux and Pears: "Filmstars ke chemical bhare sabun na lagao."

This advertisement was allegedly disparaging Dabur India's chyawanprash brand. The division bench of Delhi HC has restrained the telecast and circulation of Patanjali's said advertisement.

A Patanjali Ayurved spokesperson said that it would file its reply to the court after seeking the details of the order. Its communication strategy is simple -- to convey to the consumers the benefits of using healthy and natural products as against other products which may be harmful.

Patanjali Ayurved is not alien to rows. The West Bengal Public Health Laboratory found a batch of the Patanjali Amla Juice 'unfit' for consumption. Outlook had reported that Nepal's Drug Administration had asked Patanjali to recall six 'substandard products.'

It remains to be seen if questionable advertising methods prove to be good publicity for the baba's products in the long run.