The Bombay High Court granted relief to Bajaj Auto against the defamatory and false statements made by I.B. Commercial Pvt. Ltd.. Bajaj has released an official statement about the case:
The Hon’ble Bombay High Court grants injunctive relief to Bajaj Auto Ltd, against the defamatory and false statements made by Mls. l.B. Commercial Pvt. Ltd. In or about April 2015, Bajaj purchased certain quantity of scrap aluminium and iron and steel generated from the dismantling of the decommissioned INS Vikrant from M/s. l. B. Commercial Pvt. Limited for valuable consideration. Bajaj used the said Scrap Metal in the manufacture of its recently introduced motorcycle called Bajaj V, a brand new commuter motorcycle armed with a new design and styling and a very fuel efficient and powerful 150 cc DTS-i engine.
However, M/s. I. B. Commercial Pvt. Limited started spreading false and misleading information by circulating private communication and business sensitive information and false statements about Bajaj Auto to the public at large and the media in particular. These falsehoods included claims regarding Bajaj Auto infringing M/s. l. B. Commercial’s rights in the goodwill relating to the Scrap and with regard to the video footage used in Bajaj Auto’s promotional campaign.
To protect the reputation and goodwill of Bajaj Auto, from this unwarranted and unjust campaign, 3 Suit (L) No 197 of 2016 was filed by Bajaj Auto, seeking an injunction against M/s. I. B. Commercial Pvt. Limited from spreading malicious and injurious falsehood and or from defaming Bajaj Auto Ltd’s reputation. A motion seeking Interim Reliefs against M/s. l. B. Commercial Pvt. Limited, during the pendency of the said Suit was also filed by Bajaj Auto Ltd.
On March 11, 2016, the Bombay High Court has granted ad-lnterim Relief to Bajaj Auto Ltd in the following terms:
That, pending the hearing and final disposal of the suit, M/s. l. B. Commercial Pvt. Limited by themselves and/or through their servants and/or agents, is restrained in any manner,
- (1) from making and/or circulating further injurious and/or defamatory accusations,
- (2) repeating or publishing or re-publishing any of the statements set out in the Plaint and from giving or continuing to give wrongful threats or issuing any letter or material containing the statements that the Bajaj has committed breach of the MIS. l. B. Commercial’s copyright or any right;
- (3) revealing the details of the scrap purchased by Bajaj and from interfering in Bajaj’s marketing campaign;
- (4) and/or interfering with the Bajaj’s marketing campaign and/or sale of the BAJAJ V Motorcycles;
Senior Counsel Dr. Veerendra Tulzapurkar instructed by M/s Dhru & Co appeared for Bajaj Auto whilst Counsel Mr. Zal Andhyarujina appeared for I B Commercial.