Editor’s Note
This article reports on a Bombay High Court directive ordering major social media and news platforms to remove content deemed defamatory to Malabar Gold and Diamonds. The case highlights the legal recourse available to businesses against online campaigns that attempt to damage their reputation.
The Bombay High Court has directed Meta, X (formerly Twitter), Google, and several news and social media platforms to remove posts, stories, and other content that are defaming and damaging the brand of Malabar Gold and Diamonds, and attempting to tarnish its image. The company had approached the court seeking interim protection because a series of online posts had linked the company to Pakistan, due to its association with a social media influencer.
Malabar informed the court that it had hired JAB Studios to engage influencers for promoting its new showroom in Birmingham, UK. One of the key influencers hired by JAB was Alishba Khalid, a Pakistani Instagram influencer residing in the UK. Khalid has been accused of publicly condemning India’s surgical strike against Pakistan during Operation Sindhu.
Malabar stated that its engagement with Khalid occurred well before the Pulwama attack, and the company had no knowledge of her affiliations or past public comments when contracting her. The company says these celebrities were hired in good faith to attract customers from neighboring areas to its Birmingham showroom.
Malabar said that after the celebrity Alishba Khalid’s name became public, many people started posting online content trying to link the company to Pakistan. The company told the court that these posts—it submitted a list of 442 URLs—are defamatory and portray Malabar as sympathetic to Pakistan. Malabar also informed the court that it believes some of these posts are being strategically circulated by competitors to damage its business during the festive season.