The Bombay High Court recently granted an interim order in a defamation case filed by Malabar Group, parent company of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, against individuals circulating inflammatory posts on social media. The posts accused the brand of favoring a particular community in its social welfare initiatives, prompting a boycott movement.
Malabar Group defended its extensive social welfare activities, highlighting the distribution of educational scholarships to over 77,000 female students and an investment of Rs256 crores. Despite these efforts, a misleading post misused a photograph to tarnish the brand’s image. The group filed an interim application seeking restraint against the false propaganda.
During an urgent hearing on May 9, Justice Bharati Dangre issued an interim order in favor of Malabar Gold & Diamonds. The order stated that the accusations of favoritism were unfounded and aimed at damaging the brand’s reputation. The justice also commended the brand’s social welfare initiatives and condemned the deliberate attempts to discredit them.
The interim order directed social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to take down the URLs sharing the defamatory post. Malabar Group’s chairman, MP Ahammed, welcomed the court’s decision as a strong message against malicious parties trying to besmirch the brand’s reputation. He affirmed the group’s commitment to combating any such attempts in the future.
Overall, the Bombay High Court’s verdict serves as a warning to those spreading false narratives about reputed brands and underscores the importance of upholding a company’s integrity and reputation. Malabar Group’s victory in this defamation case sets a precedent for protecting businesses from targeted attacks on social media platforms.
