Seizure of Patanjali’s sandalwood: Delhi HC seeks Centre’s response 

The Delhi High Court has sought the response of Centre and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on the plea of Patanjali Ayurved, challenging seizure of several tonnes of red sandalwood it was going to export to China.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar issued notice to the Centre and the DRI seeking their stand on Patanjali’s plea for release of its goods which, according to it, was authorised for export by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

The company has claimed in its plea that even the export authorisation issued by DGFT was seized by DRI. The Customs Department and the DRI had recently seized over 50 tonnes of red sandalwood logs that Patanjali had bought in an e-auction held by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.

Currently, only inferior grades of sandalwood are allowed for export and the consignment was seized as it contained superior variants, the DRI had said defending its decision. The court will hear the matter next on April 18.

Patanjali Ayurved, owned and headed by Baba Ramdev, has moved the Delhi High Court with a plea to release the confiscated goods. The company claims to have permission to buy and sell Grade C Sandalwood, but the purchases made by them at the auction are suspected to have Grade A and Grade B Red Sandalwood.

Patanjali said it has been abiding by the law. “We haven’t exported so far but are in the process of exporting red sanders wood purchased from APFDCL (Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corp Ltd) and we have not done anything wrong or illegal. Everything is as per law of (the) land,” a Patanjali spokesperson was quoted as saying by the Economic Times. “In this process of export, all documents and facts comprising purchase order, proforma invoice, physical goods at Krishnapatnam Port, rate of goods, permission and licence are for C category red sanders wood. APFDCL in Andhra Pradesh has verified the same.”

He further told the newspaper that Patanjali may have been the victim of rivals. “Some misleading and false information by trade persons with vested interests may have led to this investigation,” the person said. “Nowhere, issue of export of Category A or Category B arises.”

Incidentally, Discovery Jeet, a new entertainment TV channel will be broadcasting Swami Ramdev: Ek Sangharsh that traces the origins of the yoga guru who turned businessman with his brand Patanjali.

The show is co-produced by Ajay Devgn Film Productions and Watergate Production has been made on a budget of over ₹80 crore and comprises 85 episodes.

(With PTI inputs)