Social media influencer and YouTuber Raj Shamani has agreed before the Delhi High Court to edit and remove a specific portion from one of his YouTube podcast videos. The content in question allegedly contains disparaging remarks made by dermatologist Dr. Manjot Marwah about Dettol antiseptic liquid, a product manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser (India) Limited.
The matter was heard by Justice Saurabh Banerjee, who took note of Shamani’s undertaking during the court proceedings. The assurance to edit the video formed a part of the settlement agreement reached between all involved parties.
Read also: Delhi High Court Puts Hold on BCI’s Ban Against Punjab Lawyer Lokinder Singh Phaugat
“I am saying it's a one-hour video. One and half minutes of clip with reference to Dettol. To put a quietus to it, we will edit that and remove Dettol part,”
— Shamani's counsel told the Court.
Background of the Case:
The issue stemmed from a defamation suit filed by Reckitt Benckiser against Dr. Manjot Marwah, Raj Shamani, and another social media influencer, Ritik Chaturvedi. Reckitt claimed that Dr. Marwah made defamatory and misleading statements regarding the usage and properties of Dettol antiseptic liquid in a podcast hosted by Raj Shamani on his platform FiguringOut.Co, which was uploaded to his YouTube channel.
The specific podcast was uploaded on April 1, titled:
“Skin Mistakes You Didn't Know! Tanning & Sunburn EXPOSED | Dr. Manjot Marwah | FO336 Raj Shamani.”
In addition, a related Instagram reel titled:
“Never Use Dettol on Your Skin” was also posted on April 4 by both Marwah and Shamani, and was later reposted by Chaturvedi.
During the pre-lunch session, counsels for Shamani, Marwah, and Chaturvedi appeared in court. At the outset, Shamani’s counsel informed the Court that he had instructions to delete the portion of the podcast that referenced Dettol antiseptic liquid.
Although Justice Banerjee suggested removing the entire video and uploading a fresh version, the counsel clarified that they would only edit the specific portion referring to Dettol.
Dr. Marwah’s counsel also confirmed to the Court that she had already removed the controversial Instagram reel from her handle. Similarly, the Court was informed that Ritik Chaturvedi had also deleted the reel from his Instagram profile.
Read also: Delhi High Court Aims for Swift Verdict on Pleas Challenging CLAT UG 2025 Results
During the post-lunch hearing, both parties confirmed that a settlement agreement had been drafted and mutually accepted. In light of this, the Delhi High Court directed the impugned YouTube video to be edited within 24 hours of the order being passed.
Additionally, the Court issued the following instructions:
- Raj Shamani must not reupload the content containing references to Dettol.
- Dr. Marwah and Chaturvedi are directed to act in accordance with the settlement terms.
“The impugned video shall be edited within 24 hours of this order. The content related to Dettol must not be reuploaded,”
— Directed by the Delhi High Court.
According to the lawsuit filed by Reckitt, the statements made by Dr. Marwah in the video and Instagram reel were defamatory, malicious, and misleading, possibly made with an intent of personal gain or influence by a market competitor.
The pharmaceutical company also pointed out that as a professional dermatologist, Dr. Marwah should be well aware of the difference between antiseptics and disinfectants. Reckitt clarified that:
- While antiseptic liquids can be used as disinfectants,
- Disinfectants cannot be used on human skin.
Moreover, Reckitt stated that Dr. Marwah's claim that Dettol burns wounds and delays healing was false and harmful to the product’s reputation.
The defamation suit also refers to a legal notice sent by Reckitt to Marwah, Shamani, Chaturvedi, and tech platforms like Meta (Instagram’s parent company) and YouTube, demanding the removal of the content and legal redress.
Appearances: Senior Advocate Chander M Lal appeared for Reckitt. Samani was represented by Senior Advocate Satvik Varma and Advocates Nakul Gandhi, Mujeeb Rehman and Tanish Gupta.
Title: Reckitt Benckiser India Private Limited v. Dr. Manjot Marwah & Ors.
