Court Restrains CarryMinati in Johar Suit

A Mumbai court has restrained YouTuber CarryMinati from posting or circulating alleged defamatory content against filmmaker Karan Johar, following a legal dispute over a roast video.

CarryMinati, whose real name is Ajey Nagar, had uploaded a video titled Coffee With Jalan, a spoof referencing Johar’s popular talk show Koffee With Karan. According to Johar’s plea, the video contained abusive language and direct remarks targeting him.

On February 9, the court issued an ad-interim injunction after hearing the matter. The order restrains CarryMinati, his manager Deepak Char, and associated individuals from publishing or sharing any defamatory or objectionable content related to Johar.

The court also directed social media intermediaries, including Meta Platforms, to remove the video and ensure that it is not re-uploaded or circulated further.

While hearing the case, Judge Pandurang Bhosale observed that, at first glance, the content appeared to contain defamatory statements and vulgar language against the plaintiff. Based on this prima facie assessment, the court ordered immediate takedown of the material.

In his petition, Johar stated that the video had already been viewed by millions before being deleted. He also argued that several short clips and reels derived from the original content were being circulated online, potentially affecting his reputation.

In response, CarryMinati’s legal team told the court that the original video had already been removed. They reportedly argued that the lawsuit was filed without giving the YouTuber an opportunity to present his explanation.

Despite this submission, the court granted interim relief to Johar and imposed restrictions on further publication of similar content.

The case highlights the growing intersection of online content creation and defamation law, especially when parody or roast formats involve public figures.

Further proceedings in the matter are expected as the case continues.