Bombay High Court Grants Ad-Interim Injunction to Malabar Gold Against Defamatory Social Media Posts

Court orders removal of defamatory content linked to controversial influencer engagement, protects jewellery brand's reputation.

In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has granted an ad-interim injunction to Malabar Gold and Diamonds Limited, a prominent jewellery brand, directing the removal of defamatory content from social media platforms. The judgment came in response to the jewellery brand's plea against Meta Platforms Inc and other social media entities, following a series of defamatory posts linking the brand with controversial political statements made by a social media influencer it had engaged.

Malabar Gold had contracted a UK-based social media influencer, Ms. Alishba Khalid, to promote its new showroom in Birmingham. Unbeknownst to the company, Khalid had previously made statements condemning India's military actions, which subsequently led to a backlash on social media. The posts accused Malabar Gold of being sympathetic to Pakistan, negatively impacting the company's business and reputation.

Justice Sandeep V. Marne, presiding over the case, acknowledged the plaintiff's lack of knowledge regarding the influencer's controversial past and the subsequent discontinuation of her services. The court found merit in Malabar Gold's claim that the defamatory posts were strategically disseminated by competitors to damage its reputation.

The court's order mandates the immediate removal of 442 URLs containing defamatory content, as listed by Malabar Gold, and prohibits further publication of similar material on social media platforms operated by the defendants. The judgment also allows Malabar Gold to provide specific URLs for compliance and directs the defendants to seek clarification if needed. Additionally, Defendant No.6 is specifically restrained from publishing any printed defamatory material related to the influencer engagement.

The court's decision underscores the growing influence of social media and the challenges faced by companies in managing reputational risks associated with influencer marketing. The matter is set for further hearing on November 11, 2025.

Bottom Line:

Defamation and Social Media - Ad-interim injunction granted to remove defamatory posts and restrain further defamatory content against the Plaintiff arising from its engagement of a social media influencer, whose controversial past actions were unknown to the Plaintiff at the time of engagement. 

Statutory provision(s): Defamation, Injunctions in Defamation Cases

Malabar Gold and Diamonds Limited v. Meta Platforms Inc, (Bombay) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2786184