Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved has moved the Delhi High Court against the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence’s (DRI) seizure of 50 tonnes of red sandalwood that was being exported by the company to China, reported by The Economic Times.

The seizure

The DRI seized 50 tonnes of red sandalwood and also seized the passport and other supporting documents of the Patanjali representative. They said that Patanjali had the permission to export Grade-C sandalwood and they suspect that the sandalwood that was being exported was of better Grade-A and Grade-B quality.

Patanjali’s response

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 said in an email, according to The Economic Times.

“In this process of export, all documents and facts comprising purchase order, proforma invoice, physical goods at Krishnapatnam Port, a rate of goods, permission and licence are for C category red sanders wood. APFDCL in Andhra Pradesh has verified the same.”

“Some misleading and false information by trade persons with vested interests may have led to this investigation,” the person said suspecting that rivals might have done this. “Nowhere, issue of export of Category A or Category B arises.” One of the persons cited above said the consignments may have included superior grades.

“They had sought permission to export inferior grade sandalwoods,” he said. “We have reason to believe that along with some inferior grade perhaps some superior grade sandalwoods are also being exported. We have asked them not to export till we complete our investigations.” Patanjali has asked the Delhi High Court to instruct DRI to release the goods.

“The primary prayer of the writ petitioner is against the said seizure and for the release of the same,” the high court said in a ruling on February 15, scheduling the next hearing for April 18.