A Bengaluru court has passed an ex parte ad interim injunction restraining the circulation of allegedly false and defamatory content concerning the upcoming film The Paradise, which is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on September 24.

The order was passed on September 19, 2026 by the XXXV Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, on an application filed by the film's producer, Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Cinemas LLP.

The producer had sought a permanent and mandatory injunction against the defendants, along with an interim injunction under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

The producer submitted that substantial financial investments had been made towards the production, marketing and distribution of the film.

It was further submitted that following the release of the official trailer on August 6, 2026, several allegedly false and derogatory posts, comments and URLs had emerged on social media platforms. Relying on screenshots and URLs listed in the schedule to the plaint, the producer contended that the content went beyond fair criticism and constituted targeted commercial defamation that could adversely affect the film's commercial prospects.

The producer also submitted that, with the theatrical release only days away, continued dissemination of the allegedly defamatory material could cause irreversible financial loss. It therefore sought dispensing with prior notice to the defendants, arguing that such notice could enable unidentified entities to delete, alter or multiply the allegedly defamatory URLs.

After considering the submissions and material on record, the court found that the plaintiff had established a prima facie case.

The court observed:

“The documents produced indicate the propagation of derogatory statements which go beyond standard artistic evaluation and appear targeted to diminish the commercial value of the production.”

It further observed that unhindered viral dissemination of the impugned material immediately before the theatrical release could cause unquantifiable and irreversible economic and reputational damage to the plaintiff. The court also held that the balance of convenience favoured the plaintiff.

Accordingly, the court dispensed with prior notice under the proviso to Order XXXIX Rule 3 CPC and restrained the defendants, their officers, agents and persons acting through them from hosting, publishing, transmitting, reproducing or making available the allegedly false and defamatory content concerning The Paradise specifically identified in the schedule to the plaint.

The court made it clear that the restriction does not extend to bona fide public reviews or genuine criticism, as the injunction is confined to the specifically identified URLs.

Importantly, the temporary injunction has not been granted till the film's release. The order states that it will remain in force only until the next date of hearing. The plaintiff has also been directed to comply with Order XXXIX Rule 3 CPC and furnish copies of the plaint, documents, application and order to the defendants.

The suit and interim application have been posted for hearing on October 28, 2026.

Advocates Rahul Mehta, Navod Prasannan , Atul N Menon, Akalya Ravichandran and Arun Kumar appeared for the plaintiff producer.

Case Title: Lakshmi Venkateswara Cinemas LLP v. X Corp & Others

Case No.: O.S. 7027/2026

Click Here To Read/Download Order