Delhi High Court Directs Sanjay Dutt-backed Entity To Halt 'Godfather Whisky' Social Media Posts Till Next Hearing

The Delhi High Court has recently directed Sanjay Dutt-backed Cartel Bros Private Limited not to release any fresh social media posts in relation to its “Glenwalk Godfather Whiskey” in a trademark suit filed by Devans Modern Breweries Limited.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the interim direction on April 2, recording a statement made on behalf of Cartel Bros that the product was already in the distribution channel up to the stage of retailers in Mumbai and Thane, Maharashtra. The defendant further stated that retailers in the two cities had been instructed not to offer the product for sale until the next date of hearing.

Taking this on record, the Court ordered that “Defendant no.1 shall not release any new posts in respect of the afore-noted product on social media platforms till the next date of hearing."

The Court also clarified that any further dissemination of advertisements, listings, or other information already in the public domain, if not emanating from the defendant or its line of distributors or retailers, would not be the responsibility of Cartel Bros.

Cartel Bros appeared through counsel on advance notice and accepted summons in the suit. The Court has directed it to file its written statement within 30 days, along with an affidavit of admission and denial of documents, and granted liberty to the plaintiff to file a replication thereafter.

The matter has been listed before the Court on April 10 for further hearing, while proceedings before the Joint Registrar for completion of service and pleadings are scheduled for July 9.