Delhi High Court signals interim injunction for Karan Johar, ordering social media platforms to provide subscriber data in personality rights case

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday orally indicated that it will pass an interim injunction order in favor of Bollywood filmmaker and producer Karan Johar in his plea seeking protection of his personality rights against certain alleged infringing content.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora stated that defendants 14, 15, and 16, which include social media intermediaries Google, Meta, and X, will provide basic subscriber information along with IT log details.

The court also issued summons to defendant entities 2-5 and 7-10 (online platforms like Giphy, Pinterest, etc.) in Johar’s main lawsuit. “Summons are not being issued to the remaining defendants 11-16 as they are being impleaded for compliances, and the issuance of summons will be considered on the next date of hearing,” the court said. Further, the court orally stated, “In the IA (interim relief application), I will pass a detailed order. Injunction to be granted.”

The court also recorded the submission of counsel for defendant 11 (Redbubble) that it will take steps to remove the infringing content listed in the plaint within a week. Johar, in his lawsuit, claimed that various entities, including John Does (unknown persons), have been using his name and image without his consent for monetary gains. Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for Johar, contended that these entities were using innuendos to attack his personality. “This is an innuendo about orientation. This is an 

innuendo that specifically attacks my personality,” he said.