KSK Secures Ad Interim Ex Parte Injunction Protecting the movie Paradise from Coordinated Review Bombing Ahead of Release

King Stubb & Kasiva (KSK) has successfully secured an ad interim ex parte temporary injunction on behalf of its client, Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Cinemas LLP, producer of the upcoming film The Paradise, before the Hon’ble CCH36 XXXV Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, in a significant matter concerning false, derogatory and coordinated online content targeting the film ahead of its worldwide theatrical release on 24 September 2026. 

The suit, seeking permanent and mandatory injunction, was filed against X Corp and other defendants, along with an application under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. The Plaintiff submitted that following the release of the official trailer on 6 August 2026, a series of systematically coordinated, false and derogatory posts, comments and URLs emerged on social media platforms, crossing the line of fair criticism and amounting to targeted commercial defamation calculated to damage the film’s commercial prospects. 

The Hon’ble Court dispensed with prior notice under the proviso to Order XXXIX Rule 3 of the CPC and restrained the defendants, their officers, agents and all persons acting through them, from hosting, publishing, transmitting, reproducing or making available the false and defamatory content concerning the film, as specifically identified in the Schedule to the Plaint. The injunction operates until the next date of hearing. 

The Court observed that the Plaintiff had established a prima facie case, that the impugned material went beyond standard artistic evaluation and appeared targeted at diminishing the commercial value of the production, and that the balance of convenience tilted heavily in its favour. It further noted that, in the absence of ex parte protection, viral dissemination of the material right before release could cause unquantifiable and irreversible economic and reputational damage. Importantly, the Court clarified that the restraint is confined to specifically identified malicious URLs and does not hamper bona fide public reviews or genuine critique. 

The order reinforces the balance courts are striking between the freedom to review and criticise films and the protection of producers against organised review-bombing and targeted digital defamation, particularly where such campaigns threaten a film’s commercial prospects in the critical days before its release. 

The KSK Team

The matter was handled through a coordinated effort across KSK’s Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru offices. The KSK team comprised: 

• Mr. Rahul Mehta (Partner) 
• Mr. Navod Prasannan (Partner) 
• Mr. Atul N Menon (Partner) 
• Ms. Akalya Ravichandran (Senior Associae, Chennai) 
• Mr. Arun Kumar (Associate, Bangalore) 

The order marks an important step in safeguarding the creative and commercial interests of film producers and distributors against the growing menace of coordinated digital defamation campaigns. The Court has directed issuance of suit notice and notice on the interim application to the defendants, returnable on 28-10-2026. 

Last Updated on 21 September, 2026