Delhi HC orders removing fake Kotak Bank, securities accounts from social media platforms

Justice Vikas Mahajan granted an interim injunction in a trademark infringement suit filed by Kotak Mahindra Bank and another group entity against unknown persons and others. The relief will remain in force until the next date of hearing. The court directed the unidentified individuals, referred to as John Doe defendants, to stop using the Kotak, Kotak Bank and Kotak Securities names, logos and other identifying features without authorisation.

They have also been restrained from impersonating the bank's managing directors, chief executives, employees or authorised representatives across digital platforms, websites, mobile applications and social media. Kotak group alleged that, unauthorised operators were using these identities to run fraudulent investment schemes and pass them off as genuine offerings of their group. The bank told the court that it had received more than 100 complaints from clients who allegedly lost between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh each by transferring money to bank accounts operated by the fraudsters.

Kotak group argued that the activities were damaging their goodwill and registered trademarks while exposing investors to financial losses. The court observed that the plaintiffs had established a prima facie case for an interim injunction and that failure to grant relief could cause irreparable harm to the companies and financial prejudice to the public and unsuspecting investors. The court has directed online platforms, including Meta, WhatsApp, Google, Telegram, X Corp and LinkedIn, which have been impleaded as defendants, to remove the infringing websites, social media accounts and other fraudulent links identified in the court's annexures.

They must also provide the Kotak group with the names, contact details, identity proofs, photographs and other know-your-customer details of the individuals operating the accounts and links. The court has separately directed MeitY and DoT to issue the necessary notifications or directions to internet service providers and telecom service providers to block access to the identified infringing websites. The court has asked the defendants to submit their written replies. The matter will next come up before the court on February 8, 2027..