Delhi High Court noted the undertaking by social media influencer Raj Shamani to remove alleged defamatory remarks made against Dettol Antiseptic Liquid by dermatologist Dr. Manjot Marwah during a podcast episode. This case is part of a defamation suit by Reckitt Benckiser India, the manufacturer of Dettol, which reflects the increasing accountability of influencers and content creators in the digital age.
The Case: Allegations and Contentious Remarks
The entire dispute stemmed from a podcast episode entitled “Skin Mistakes You Didn’t Know! Tanning and Sunburn EXPOSED,” hosted by Raj Shamani on his YouTube channel FiguringOut.Co. On April 1, 2025, the episode featured Dr. Manjot Marwah, who was alleged to have said that Dettol was “essentially a floor cleaner” and unsuitable for use on human skin. She further claimed that using Dettol on wounds would burn the wound and slow the healing process. These statements got further amplification through an Instagram reel called “Never Use Dettol on Your Skin”, uploaded by Dr. Marwah on April 5, 2025, and reshared by another influencer, Ritik Chaturvedi.
The suit filed by Reckitt Benckiser India against the three persons was a case of defamation for making false, misleading, disparaging, and defamatory remarks concerning their flagship product. The company felt the misstatements would not just bring the name of Dettol into disrepute, but they would also mislead the consumers about the safety and efficacy of the product.
Legal Arguments and Court Proceedings
At the hearing before Justice Saurabh Banerjee on April 8, 2025, Reckitt Benckiser assembled a team of lawyers led by Senior Advocate Chander M. Lall to argue against everything contained in the podcast and the reel. They said:
- Dettol’s Credibility: The product is a licensed antiseptic and has been allowed under Indian law to be used on human skin since 1936. It qualifies as a drug as defined in Section 3(b)(i) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
- Misrepresentation: Allegations against Dettol classifying it merely as a floor cleaner were “blatantly false and slanderous.”
- Impact of Influencer Reach: Reckitt stated that such allegations could bring irreparable damage to the brand’s image, given the huge follower base of Dr. Marwah and the sort of millions of views that the content has.
Advocate Ramandeep Singh, representing Dr. Marwah, told the Court that she has already deleted the Instagram reel with defamatory statements. The legal team of Raj Shamani, led by Sr. Adv. Satvik Varma, assured the Court that they would edit or take out any defamatory part of the podcast.
Settlement Terms and Court Orders
According to the settlement terms, the Court took notice of a draft settlement agreement filed under Order 23 Rule 3 of the Civil Procedure Code, which deals with compromises in civil matters. In terms of this settlement,
- Content Removal: Raj Shamani has agreed to edit out a 1.5-minute stretch of the podcast video concerning Dettol within 24 hours.
- Instagram Reel Deletion: Dr. Marwah confirmed she had deleted the Instagram reel “Never Use Dettol on Your Skin”. Ritik Chaturvedi also deleted his re-post of the reel.
- Future Restrictions: All parties were directed not to upload or share similar content in any form.
- Platform Cooperation: Social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram were ordered to assist in the changes to the content.
Justice Banerjee said that while freedom of speech is necessary, care needs to be used by the influencers when making public statements concerning long-established consumer products like Dettol.
Broader Implications for Influencers
This case is an indication of the increasing watch over influencer marketing and content creation within the country. Social media now bears powerful swords in shaping public opinion. Courts are now increasingly holding influencers responsible for their unverified/misleading statements.
Justice Banerjee said such public figures had the responsibility of being factually correct in this kind of statement concerning the long-time established products. The court highlighted how unverified claims could lead to confusion in the public about consumers and damage to brands.
Reckitt Benckiser’s Stand
Reckitt Benckiser India has welcomed the court’s intervention to safeguard the integrity of its brand. The company reiterated that Dettol is a popular trusted antiseptic for ages globally and conforms to all regulatory standards on safety and efficacy.
Senior Advocate Chander M. Lall argued that such cases would set important standards for fighting against misinformation in the digital space. He pointed out that however great the reach of an influencer might be, he or she should always couple their exteriors with internal truths and not mislead consumers.
Conclusion
Such a ruling of Delhi High Court marks a significant landmark in contemporary history where defamation will be viewed in terms of the Internet. By making settlement terms formal and directing content removal, it pursues a fine balance between free speech and accountability for comments made on the Internet.
This serves as a reminder for the influencers of their ethical responsibilities in coming up with any form of content, but at the same time strengthens the boundaries that the law creates for brands against disparagement. Such a ruling can be expected, too, with growing influence of these digital platforms, to define the dynamic way brands and influencers will deal with disputes in the future.
About Author
Jagadish Nayak, a B.com student studying at St. Francis College in Bangalore, wrote this article during his internship with Jurssphere.