Bombay High Court Imposes ₹4 Crore Fine on Patanjali for Trademark Violation

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has penalised Patanjali Ayurved Ltd with a Rs 4 crore fine for breaching a 2023 interim order that barred the company from selling camphor products. This development arises from a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Mangalam Organics Ltd.

Justice R I Chagla, presiding over the case, identified a “wilful and deliberate” violation of the court’s directive by Patanjali, indicating a clear intent to defy the order. Consequently, Justice Chagla directed Patanjali to deposit the Rs 4 crore fine within two weeks. This sum is additional to the Rs 50 lakh the company was ordered to deposit earlier this month.

In August 2023, an interim order had prohibited Patanjali from selling or advertising its camphor products following allegations of copyright infringement by Mangalam Organics. Despite this, Mangalam Organics filed an application alleging continued sales of the prohibited products by Patanjali.

An affidavit submitted in June 2024 by Rajneesh Mishra, a director at Patanjali, included an unconditional apology and an acknowledgment of the injunction breach, revealing cumulative sales of the disputed products totaling Rs 49,57,861 post-injunction.

Justice Chagla noted that although grounds for imprisoning Mishra existed, the court refrained from doing so to protect his personal liberty. However, the court warned that Mishra would face immediate custody if the Rs 4 crore fine is not deposited within the stipulated timeframe.