Mumbai Court Restrains YouTuber Carry Minati, Others From Making Defamatory Content Against Karan Johar

A Mumbai Court on Monday (February 9) restrained YouTuber Ajey Nagar popularly known as Carry Minati, Meta Platforms and others from making any 'objectionable and defamatory' videos or any other content against Bollywood film producer Karan Johar, after the latter objected to a 'roast' video uploaded on Nagar's YouTube channel titled as 'Coffee With Jalan.'

Notably, the allegedly defamatory video was made on the lines of Johar's popular talkshow 'Koffee With Karan.' It is stated that abusive language was used in this clip targeting Bollywood nepotism and specifically Johar.

Judge Pandurang Bhosale even passed John Doe orders after Johar moved the court with a defamation suit seeking urgent reliefs against Carry Minati and his associates and YouTube for pulling down the defamatory video.

"Prima facie it appears that the Ajey Nagar and Deepak Char (manager of Carry Minati channel) have made defamatory statements and used vulgar language against the plaintiff. These videos need to be taken down immediately. There should be injunction against all those who circulate and re-circulate these videos on the social media platform. This is fit case to pass ad-interim injunction orders against the defendants," Judge Bhosale said in the ad-interim order passed on February 9.

In his plea, Johar argued that Nagar and Char have made defamatory statements in the videos and uploaded it on their YouTube channel. He highlighted the fact that the statements made in the video are so vulgar and abusive that they immediately needs to be taken down. He further pointed out that though Nagar has pulled down the defamatory video, but the same have been viewed by millions of people and several unknown persons are now making reels and short videos of the same and re-circulating it on social media. 

In his defence, Nagar pointed out that he has already deleted the defamatory videos and other defamatory material against Johar and that there is no cause of action left now. He argued that Johar 'hurriedly' filed the instant suit without giving him an opportunity to clarify his stand. 

Having considered the contentions, Judge Bhosale in the ad-interim order, said, "All the defendants no.1 to 5, defendant no.8/John Doe and their agents, servants or any persons claiming through or under them are hereby temporarily restrained from making and uploading videos, posting, re-posting, giving interviews, corresponding, communicating, uploading, printing, publishing, re-publishing, hosting, circulating or re-circulating any other defamatory/slanders content or making any further or defamatory contents, derogatory remarks, posts, messages, tweets, videos, interviews, communications, correspondence either similarly to the impugned or otherwise in any manner whatsoever in relation to the plaintiff or any social media platforms till the decision of the notice of motion. The defendant no.6 is directed to take down the videos and URL."

Appearance:

Advocates Pradeep Gandhy, Parag Khandhar, Anaheeta Verma, Pratyusha Dhodda and Rakhee Bajpai Tiwari instructed by DSK Legal appeared for  Karan Johar.

Advocates Vikas Khera, Amit Kukreja and Alpna Mishra represented Carry Minati.

Advocates Rishabh Jaisani and Abhishek Mookherjee instructed by Sam & Co. represented Meta Platforms. 

Advocates Amishi Sodani and Charu Shukla represented Google.