In a victory for Serum Institute, the High Court orders the removal of defamatory content in a 100 crore lawsuit

Keywords: Adar Poonawala, CoviShield, Serum Institute of India, vaccine, Justice Riyaz Chagla

The Bombay High Court has ordered two persons to take down defamatory comments worth Rs 100 crore from social media platforms. The slanderous information was directed at the Serum Institute of India, the maker of the CoviShield vaccine, and its CEO, Adar Poonawala.

The interim suit brought by the Serum Institute of India and Adar Poonawala against social media stars Yohan Tengra and Amber Kori was dismissed by Justice Riyaz Chagla. Tengra and Kori, the plaintiffs claimed, had uploaded defamatory articles, comments, and videos on the negative effects of the CoviShield vaccine, specifically targeting Poonawala.[1]

During the court hearings, senior attorney Aspi Chinoy contended that the defamatory material referred to the plaintiffs as murderers and ‘criminals,’ notwithstanding their attempts to save millions of lives. He emphasized that individual viewpoints should not be spread in this manner on social media sites.

According to government numbers, Chinoy went on to say that just 12 deaths had been reported out of two crore nineteen lakh doses of Covishield provided went on to say that just 12 deaths had been reported out of two crore nineteen lakh doses of Covishield given, according to government numbers. He emphasized that the vaccine’s benefits greatly surpassed any potential side effects.[2]

On the other side, the defendants’ lawyers Nilesh Ojha and Abhishek Mishra, argued that one study linked the vaccination to a higher risk of mortality and cancer. They also stated that the product has been prohibited in 21 European nations.

Written by- Satyanshu Sharma, College name- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, Semester- 2^nd, An intern under Legal Vidhiya

[1] LIVELAW, https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/bombay-high-court/bombay-high-court-covishield-defamation-case-serum-institute-adar-poonawala-230059 (last accessed on 06^th June, 2023)

[2] LATESTLAWS, https://latestlaws.com/latest-news/in-win-for-serum-institute-high-court-orders-removal-of-defamatory-content-in-100-crore-suit-200336/ (last accessed on 06^th June, 2023)

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