"Extremely Despicable": Bombay HC Orders Police Action Over Assault On Receiver During Counterfeit Goods Raid

The Bombay High Court has directed the Superintendent of Police, Ambala, to take action in relation to the assault on a court-appointed receiver during a court-ordered search-and-seizure operation in Haryana that allegedly uncovered a huge quantity of goods bearing Unilever Plc's trademarks, labels, and artwork.

The court has also ordered police protection for the receiver during further execution proceedings.

The order was passed on May 29 by vacation judge Justice Shreeram V. Shirsat. The court was considering a report filed by Additional Special Receiver Harshwardhan Joshi, along with medical papers and photographs placed on record.

"Such tendencies are extremely despicable. No one should be permitted to take law into their own hands and the rule of law has to prevail. Majesty of law must be upheld at all costs.", the court noted.

The proceedings arise from a Commercial IP Suit filed by Unilever Plc against Ashok Kumar. Acting under an ex-parte interim order originally passed on November 24, 2025, and extended thereafter, Joshi travelled to Naraingarh in Ambala district on May 22 with representatives of Hindustan Unilever Limited to execute the court's directions.

Before reaching the site, the execution team approached the office of the Superintendent of Police, Ambala, for assistance. Local police personnel were subsequently deputed for the operation.

When the team arrived, the premises were locked. The locks were broken open in the presence of police personnel. Inside, according to the receiver, was a facility that appeared to function both as a warehouse and a manufacturing unit.

Among the material allegedly found were finished products and packaging associated with Pond's Bright Beauty cream, Pond's Bright Miracle face wash, Dove shampoo and Clinic Plus shampoo. The inventory also included drums containing raw material used in shampoo manufacturing and gunny bags containing Fair and Lovely packaging material.

"The counterfeit goods were identical in appearance ditto-to-ditto similar to the plaintiff's genuine products, bearing the impugned labels, trade dress, artwork and trademarks of the plaintiff."

According to the report, the seized material was being loaded into a truck when a Mahindra Scorpio and a Toyota Fortuner arrived at the premises. Joshi reported that several persons got out of the vehicles and assaulted members of the execution team.

His report states that his shirt was torn during the incident. Mobile phones belonging to him and a representative of Hindustan Unilever Limited were allegedly snatched. Material that had already been seized was allegedly removed from the truck and taken back.

The receiver identified some of the individuals involved as Neeraj Verma, Akash and Rajesh Choona. According to the report, the group continued to follow and intimidate the team after it left the premises.

"I respectfully submit that these events transpired despite the presence of ASI Surjit Singh at the location."

The report states that after leaving the site, the team was followed by multiple vehicles while travelling towards Delhi. Joshi claimed that he contacted SHO Lalit Kumar seeking assistance but did not receive the cooperation sought. He then called Superintendent of Police Ajit Singh Shekhawat and requested police protection or an escort up to the Haryana border.

According to the report, the Superintendent of Police responded by saying "ye nautanki mat karo" and thereafter did not answer subsequent calls. Joshi and a representative of the plaintiff later underwent Medico Legal Case examinations at Holy Family Hospital in Delhi at around 2.30 am.

After reviewing the report, photographs and medical papers, the court observed that prima facie it was quite evident that the Additional Special Receiver and those accompanying him had been assaulted.

"From the report, the e-mail placed, medical papers and the photographs placed on record, prima facie it is quite evident that the Additional Special Receiver and the persons accompanying have been assaulted by Neeraj Kumar and his accomplices.", the court noted.

The court noted that counsel for Unilever had drawn attention to other matters in which similar incidents of assault on court-appointed receivers had taken place while executing court orders.

Justice Shirsat directed the Superintendent of Police and the Station House Officer to provide sufficient protection to the receiver and the plaintiff's representatives.

The court said the deployment should include lady police constables and that reasonable and proportionate force could be used to ensure that the order is executed in its "letters and spirit".

If the receiver and the plaintiff are able to identify the location to which the goods were transferred, the same protection must be extended there as well.

The Superintendent of Police has also been directed to take action under the law in relation to the assault on the receiver and the plaintiff's representatives. He has been asked to place a report before the court regarding the action taken against the offenders.

The matter will next be heard on June 24.