Delhi HC Grants Ex Parte Interim Injunction Against Certain Videos ‘Defaming’ Patanjali On Social Media [Read Order]

The Delhi High Court has granted ad-interim ex parte injunction against one Meera Kumar, an ex-employee of Divya Pharmacy, a subsidiary of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, and directed other three respondents Facebook, Google and YouTube to pull down some of her videos.

Patanjali Ayurved Ltd had sought removal of some videos uploaded on YouTube and other social media platforms by Meera Kumar.

Justice JR Midha directed Facebook, YouTube and Google to remove/block or restrict the URLs to these videos that are claimed to be defamatory in nature.

Senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar and Simranjeet Singh of Athena Legal appeared on behalf of Patanjali and submitted that the said videos contained slanderous, defamatory, and false statements against the plaintiffs (Patanjali).

Nayyar submitted that they wrote to Facebook and YouTube complaining against the videos and asked for removal of these videos. However, in their reply, the respondents made it clear that no action could be taken unless there is a court order.

Plaintiffs also alleged that defendant Meera Kumar, who is actually an ex-employee of their subsidiary, was terminated in May 2017 and is, therefore, indulging in a nefarious campaign to defame them.

In an order dated August 10, 2018, the court granted ex parte injunction directing Meera Kumar not to give any interviews about the content which is alleged to be ‘defamatory’.

Officials of Facebook, Google and YouTube have been directed to remove the said URLs and to remain present in the next hearing.