Bombay HC Issues John Doe Order to Curb Sale of Counterfeit and Contraband 'Closeup' and 'Pepsodent' Product

The Bombay High Court granted ex-parte ad-interim relief in favor of Hindustan Unilever Ltd.(HUL) in a John Doe suit against anonymous individuals selling counterfeit and illegally imported 'Closeup' and 'Pepsodent' products.

These fake products were sold in Ranchi and Indore markets with packaging errors, such as "Napal" instead of "Nepal."

The court ruled that HUL was entitled to protection against such counterfeit products because of the potential for irreparable damages.

The court restrained the defendant from manufacturing such oral hygiene products under HUL inverted marks and appointed a Court Receiver and Additional Special Receiver to seize and inventory the counterfeit and contraband items.