Mumbai City Civil Court Grants Ad-Interim Injunction to Salman Khan Against Abhinav Kashyap Over Defamatory YouTube Remarks

February 01, 2026 : A City Civil Court in Mumbai has granted ad-interim relief to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, restraining filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap and persons associated with a YouTube channel from making or circulating any defamatory content against the actor or his family on social media or other platforms.

The order was passed on January 30, 2026, by Justice P. G. Bhosale of the City Civil Court, Mumbai, in a defamation suit filed by Salman Khan against Abhinav Kashyap, along with the owners and hosts of the YouTube channel Bollywood Thikana, Komal Mehru and Khushboo Hazare. The suit seeks compensation, damages, and a permanent injunction over allegedly defamatory statements made during a YouTube interview.

According to the plaint, Khan approached the court urgently after Kashyap allegedly made objectionable, abusive, and defamatory remarks against him and his family in an interview aired on the YouTube channel. Khan contended that the statements were deliberately intended to malign his reputation and were widely circulated across digital platforms, causing serious and irreparable harm to his public image.

After examining the impugned statements and the material placed on record, the Court found prima facie merit in Khan’s grievance. Justice Bhosale observed that the statements were “defamatory, derogatory, abusive and insulting in nature” and that they lowered the image of the plaintiff in the eyes of the general public. The Court noted that the reputation of the plaintiff was prima facie harmed by the acts of defendants.

The Court rejected the defence that the statements were protected under the right to freedom of speech and expression. It held that this constitutional right cannot be stretched to justify defamatory or abusive remarks. The Court observed that every individual has a right to privacy and protection of their image, and freedom of speech does not permit the use of abusive or threatening language against any person or their family.

Emphasising the limits of free speech, the Court further noted that nobody can or should make defamatory statements against the family of anyone. Holding that the matter warranted immediate protection, the Court described it as a fit case for passing ad-interim ex parte orders.

Accordingly, the Court temporarily restrained Abhinav Kashyap, Komal Mehru, and Khushboo Hazare from making, uploading, posting, reposting, publishing, republishing, hosting, circulating, or recirculating any defamatory or slanderous content, including videos, interviews, messages, tweets, or communications concerning Salman Khan or his family on any platform, until they appear before the Court and file their replies to the notice of motion. The Court also directed the plaintiff to communicate the order to all defendants.

The Court recorded that Khan has sought a permanent injunction to restrain the defendants from repeating such acts in the future, along with other consequential reliefs. The matter will now proceed in accordance with law after the defendants enter appearance and file their responses.

On behalf of Salman Khan, Advocates P. D. Gandhy, Parag Khandhar, Chandrima Mitra, Tapan Radkar, and Zara Dhanbhoora, instructed by DSK Legal, appeared before the Court. Advocates Parth Jain, Ansh Agal, Aditi Pareek, and Pranali Mitbhaokar, instructed by Jain Law Partners LLP, appeared for Abhinav Kashyap, Komal Mehru, and Khushboo Hazare. Google LLC was represented by Advocates Amishí Sodani and Charu Shukla, while Meta Platforms Inc. was represented by Advocates Rishabh Jaisani, Richa Bharti, and Abhishek Mookherjee, instructed by Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas.

Cause Title: Salman Khan vs Abhinav Kashyap
(Short Cause Suit No. 1050 of 2026, City Civil Court, Mumbai)