Content posted against SII defamatory: Bombay HC

One-liner: The Bombay HC on Monday said content posted by two individuals and their organisations against vaccine manufacturing major Serum Institute of India (SII) was prima facie defamatory and directed them to delete it.

Restrained: A single bench of Justice R I Chagla also temporarily restrained them from posting any content against the company.

SII seeks damages: The SII filed a defamation suit in Dec 2022 seeking damages to the tune of ₹100Cr from the two individuals and their organisations for posting erroneous content against the company and its Covid vaccine Covishield.

• The HC on Monday in its interim order said it was of the prima facie view that the SII has been satisfied that the contents and accusations made by the two persons were defamatory

Direction to delete all posts: The HC directed the defendants to delete all their posts and content against the company and temporarily restrained them from posting any such content further until the suit is heard and decided.

Against Covishield: The SII in its suit claimed the defendants -- Yohan Tengra, his organisation Anarchy for Freedom India, and Ambar Koiri and his organisation Awaken India Movement -- had been posting and circulating defamatory content against the company and its Covid vaccine Covishield.

Incorrect information: The suit said the defendants had also been posting incorrect information that implied the Covishield vaccine was the cause of deaths of multiple persons due to side effects.

SII CEO targeted: The posts released were not only targeting the SII but also its Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla, it said. The plea sought the HC to restrain the defendants from publishing or circulating any content against the SII or its employees.