The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (September 29) directed X Corp (formerly Twitter) to delete the objectionable content posted on its platform by certain persons against Covishield vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII) and its CEO Adar Poonawala.

The posts label them as 'mass murderers' after some deaths occurred due to the alleged adverse effect of the Covid19 vaccine. 

Single-judge Justice Gauri Godse noted that a detailed order was passed on June 5, 2023 directing the defendants - Yohan Tengra, his YouTube channel Anarchy for Freedom India, Ambar Koiri and TV10 L.I.V.E to remove the objectionable content against Poonawala and the SII, however the same was not removed yet. The judge noted that Tengra, who has uploaded a new video against Poonawalla and SII, has specifically stated that he will not comply with the court's order and that he would continue to call them 'mass murderer.'

"It is undisputed that the directions issued by this Court in the earlier application have not been complied with, and that the objectionable content is still available on the social media platform of X Corp. It is also undisputed that Tengra has uploaded a new video on the same night when the injunction was granted by this Court in the earlier application. Thus, the fresh video uploaded by Tengra is not only in blatant defiance of the order passed by this Court, but he also states that he will not comply with the directions of the Court and that he would not stop calling Poonawal 'mass murderer'," Justice Godse recorded. 

Justice Godse pointed out that by virtue of the detailed order, the High Court had already declared the content to be 'objectionable and defamatory' and further added that despite the Court's directions to remove the objectionable content and restrain all the defendants from publishing it, Tengra has not only blatantly defied the directions issued by the Court but has also refused to remove the objectionable content.

The judge noted that X Corp has refused to remove the objectionable content only on the ground that no specific directions were issued to it to remove the objectionable content.

"The fresh video uploaded by Tengra repeats the objectionable content and states that he would defy the directions issued by this Court. Therefore, all three golden principles of prima facie case, irreparable loss and balance of convenience are in favour of the plaintiffs. Considering the subsequent circumstance of Tengra uploading the video and repeating the objectionable content, and stating that he shall not comply with the order passed by the Court, sufficient grounds are made out to exercise the discretionary jurisdiction of this Court under Order XXXIX Rule 2 of the CPC to direct X Corp to remove, delete or disable access to the fresh video uploaded by him. An interlocutory mandatory injunction can be granted to preserve or restore the status quo before the controversy in the suit until the suit is finally decided," Justice Godse observed. 

Justice Godse noted Tengra's conduct and also that of his advocate in repeatedly attacking the integrity of Justice Riyaz Chagla, who had  passed the order dated June 5, 2023. The judge noted that the advocate and Tengra both have been making baseless allegations and derogatory remarks and thus cannot be ignored.

"By Order dated April 6, 2026 passed, the counsel for Tengra as well as the defendant who had affirmed the application making the derogatory remarks and the advocate on record were called upon to explain as to why proceedings for contempt of court should not be ordered to be initiated for making baseless allegations and derogatory remarks against the Single Judge and expressing distrust. Instead of filing an affidavit in response to the said order, Tengra and his arguing counsel have repeated the allegations in this application," the judge noted. 

The judge further noted that in the written submissions too, Tengra has made similar contemptuous allegations, which the judge said, shows that "Tengra and his advocates are habituated to making baseless allegations and derogatory remarks. In the transcript of the fresh video of Tengra, he has repeated the allegations and said that even negative publicity, and the fact that the media is covering it, is good for him as his name is being mentioned in the media. It is unfortunate that sometimes the parties and their advocates, instead of following the procedure known to law, engage in making bald, baseless and derogatory remarks against other parties and the judges. Such conduct may result in ignoring the main cause and, in a given case, may defeat a genuine cause. Hence, such conduct needs to be deprecated," the judge observed. 

With these observations, the judge directed X Corp to immediately remove and delete the objectionable content posted by Tengra. Further, a show cause notice has been issued to Tengra and other defendants asking why action should not be initiated against them for defying the court's June 5, 2023 orders. 

The matter is going to be heard against on October 27.

Appearance:

Advocates Karl Tamboly, Monisha Mane Bhangale, Bijal Vora and Chandragupta Patil instructed by Parinam Law Associates appeared for Plaintiffs.

Advocates Nilesh Ojha, Shivam Gupta, Sumer Singh and Bhagawan Kasture represented Yohan Tengra.

Advocate Minhas Joshi represented Google LLC.

Advocates Mayur Khandeparkar, Nupur Jalan, Sanchli Sethi, Delzeen Dastoor, Parth Munde and Vedchetan Patil represented X Corp.