Bombay HC's Order In Malabar Gold Ltd. v. Shajan Skariah: A Study In Defamation & Free Expression

"Reputation is an extremely delicate thing. It takes years to build, but can be destroyed in an instant." This quote underscores the essence of the recent legal battle between Malabar Gold Limited (Plaintiff) and Shajan Skariah (Respondent), a YouTuber known for his channel "Marunadan Malayali." The Bombay High Court stepped in to address allegations that Skariah's video tarnished the reputation of the Plaintiff. The Court ordered the Respondent to remove a video deemed defamatory towards the Plaintiff.

Case Background

Malabar Gold Limited has filed a suit against Shajan Skariah alleging that a video posted on his YouTube channel contained defamatory statements about the company. The controversy cantered around a video posted by Respondent that criticized the company in connection with the termination of an ex-employee, Arjun Sathyan. According to the Plaintiff, the video contained false and harmful statements about the company's practices and was based