Salman Khan gets relief from Mumbai court in defamation case against Abhinav Kashyap

The City Civil Court at Mumbai on Friday restrained filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap and YouTube hosts of the channel Bollywood Thikana from making or circulating defamatory statements against Bollywood actor Khan and his family [Salman Khan v. Abhinav Kashyap & Ors.].

The interim order was passed in a defamation suit filed by Khan over a series of interviews and podcasts in which Kashyap allegedly made derogatory comments about the actor and his family.

The channel, owned by Komal Mehru and hosted by Khushboo Hazare, had published interviews on YouTube and other social media platforms.

Justice PG Bhosale observed that the statements flagged by Khan were “defamatory, derogatory, abusive and insulting in nature and harmful to the reputation of the plaintiff.” 

The Court held that such remarks lowered Khan’s image in the eyes of the public.

Hence, it rejected Kashyap’s claim of protection under free speech. 

“Each individual has his privacy and image to be protected. The argument that Kashyap has a right to freedom of speech and expression cannot be accepted," the Court said.

Accordingly, the Court restrained Kashyap and the hosts from making, uploading, or circulating any defamatory or slanderous content concerning Khan or his family on social media.

On the limits of freedom of expression, the Court said that "nobody can make and nobody should make defamatory statements against the family of anybody.”

Advocates PD Gandhy, Parag Khandhar, Chandrima Mitra, Tapan Radkar, and Zara Dhanbhoora briefed by law firm DSK Legal appeared for Salman Khan. 

Advocates Parth Jain, Ansh Agal, Aditi Pareek and Pranali Mitbhaokar briefed by Jain Law Partners LLP appeared for Kashyap, Mehru and Hazare. 

Advocates Amishí Sodani and Charu Shukla appeared for Google LLC. 

Advocates Rishabh Jaisani, Richa Bharti and Abhishek Mookherjee briefed by Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas appeared for Meta Inc. 

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