Delhi HC Orders Blocking Of Rogue Websites Spreading Falsehoods About Anant Ambani-Narasimhan Interview

The Court's action followed a petition by CNBC TV18 and Narasimhan, seeking the removal of content from eight rogue websites containing a fabricated article titled 'CNBC-TV18 management refuses to comment on the scandal surrounding its interview Vantara (star of the forest)'. Narasimhan had conducted an interview with Anant Ambani, which was published on CNBC TV18’s YouTube channel, where Ambani discussed various projects and his passion for wildlife.

However, the rogue websites published a falsified version of the interview, falsely attributed to BBC, redirecting readers to a cryptocurrency trading platform named Everix Edge. The fabricated interview falsely claimed that Ambani endorsed the platform, promising massive returns on investment.

A Bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula directed Meta and X to block or remove Facebook posts and tweets related to the interview. Additionally, both social media companies were instructed to provide complete details of the users responsible for these posts in sealed covers. The Court said, “Court is satisfied that the Plaintiffs No.1, 2 and 6 have demonstrated a prima-facie case for infringement of Plaintiffs’ TV18 marks and copyright, as well as passing off of the Plaintiff’s mark. Furthermore, the impugned article also prima facie violates the personality rights of Plaintiff No.6.”

CNBC TV18 argued that these rogue websites infringed on their trademarks, violated copyright laws regarding the interview, and even encroached upon the personality rights of Narasimhan.

Concurring with the plaintiff's arguments, the Court ordered the blocking of the rogue websites issuing a series of directions for the Defendants.

Cause Title: Network 18 Media and Investments Limited & Ors. v WWW.BrawlersFightClub.Com & Ors.

Appearance:

Plaintiff: Advocate Saikrishna Rajagopal

Defendants: Advocates Tejas Karia, Varun Pathak, Yash Karunakarun, Adya Joshi, and Arunima Srivastava, Mrinal Ojha, Debarshi Datta, and Tanya Chaudhury.