Dr Anita R Ratnam v. Meta Platforms Inc Represented By Its Authorized And 8 Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17.12.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY Dr.Anita R.Ratnam .. Applicant vs 1.Meta Platforms Inc represented by its Authorised Signatory 1 Meta Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA.

2.Telegram FZ-LLC represented by its Authorised Signatory P.O.Box 501919, Business Central Towers, Tower-A, Office 1003/1004, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

3.Indian Overseas Bank represented by its General Manager No.21, North Mada Street, Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004.

Also at Branch Office, Joseph School, Civil Lines, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh - 273 001.

4.Bank of India represented by its General Manager At & Post Raxauldistt. West Champaran, Bihar - 845 305.

5.Shubham Kumar (John Doe) 6.Rashmika Gavit (John Doe) 7.Pooja Sawant (John Doe) 8.Harpreet Kaur (John Doe) 9.Shivam Dubey (John Doe) .. Respondents 1/4

For Applicant :

Mr.M.S.Bharath For Respondents :

Mr.Varun Pathak for M/s.Allwin Godwin for R1 Mr.Thriyambak J.Kannan for R2

ORDER

On 30.04.2025, interim order was granted in O.A.Nos.468 to 472 of 2025 and A.No.2251 of 2025. The operative paragraph thereof is as under:

'3. On prima facie assessment, it appears that the celebrity status and personality rights of the plaintiff have been misused for commercial purposes. It also appears that the use by the unnamed defendants through defendants 1 and 2 would not fall within the fair use exception. Therefore, there shall be an order of interim injunction directing respondents 1 and 2 to take down the links mentioned in paragraph 35 of the plaint. If similar links are identified by the plaintiff and communicated to the first and second respondents, such link shall also be taken down in terms of this order.'

2. The said order was clarified by subsequent order dated 11.06.2025. The operative paragraph thereof is as under: '2.Learned counsel for the first defendant states that the links mentioned in paragraph 35 of 2/4

the plaint were taken down. As regards the direction to take down similar links identified by the plaintiff and communicated to the said defendant, she submits that the first defendant may be given the right to refuse if such URL is outside the scope of the plaint. The said request is eminently reasonable and the order is clarified to restrict the obligation to take down to links falling within the scope of the suit. Subject to this clarification, the interim order issued earlier is extended until the next date of hearing.'

3. Because the intermediaries were not included in the prayers of O.A.Nos.468 to 472 of 2025, the plaintiff has filed O.A.No.743 of 2025. The operative paragraphs extracted above shall be treated as orders issued in O.A.No.743 of 2025. O.A.No.743 of 2025 is closed on these terms.

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SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY,J.

mmi To 1.Indian Overseas Bank represented by its General Manager No.21, North Mada Street, Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004.

Also at Branch Office, Joseph School, Civil Lines, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh - 273 001.

2.Bank of India represented by its General Manager At & Post Raxauldistt. West Champaran, Bihar - 845 305.

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