The Delhi High Court has permanently restrained several individuals from misusing the ‘Moneycontrol’ brand name to promote fraudulent investment schemes on WhatsApp, observing that the activities were designed to mislead investors by falsely projecting affiliation with the trusted financial platform.
A single-judge bench of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the order in a trademark infringement and passing-off suit filed by Network18 Media & Investments Limited, the company that operates Moneycontrol across its website, mobile apps and social media channels.
Court: “Clear intent to misrepresent”
While analyzing the material placed on record, the Court noted that the defendants circulated WhatsApp messages promising stock tips and unusually high returns, while suggesting that their services were officially endorsed by Moneycontrol.
“The activities of the Defendants establish a clear intention of showing a direct nexus or affiliation with the Plaintiff and making a misrepresentation that its services have been licensed or approved,” the Court observed.
Network18 told the Court that from March 2024, several members of the public reported receiving invitations to WhatsApp investment groups falsely branded as official Moneycontrol initiatives. One such group was titled “CINV The Premier Strategy Group”. According to the company, these groups had no link with Moneycontrol and were meant to deceive unsuspecting investors into transferring money.
Prior blocking orders continued
The Court recalled that an earlier ad-interim injunction had already restrained misuse of the Moneycontrol mark and directed WhatsApp and telecom companies to block the identified numbers and accounts. Despite being served notices, the individuals involved did not appear before the Court or contest the proceedings.
Holding that the defendants’ conduct amounted to deliberate misrepresentation and exploitation of Moneycontrol’s goodwill, the Court said:
“It is evident that these Defendants sent messages to customers via WhatsApp as part of a scheme to deceive them into transferring substantial sums of money.”
Permanent injunction, extended blocking of numbers
Allowing the suit, the Delhi High Court issued a decree of permanent injunction, prohibiting the defendants from using the Moneycontrol name or claiming any association with the platform in any manner.
The Court also directed that the identified WhatsApp accounts and mobile numbers shall remain blocked for another year, and clarified that the same numbers must not be re-issued to the concerned individuals. Additionally, one of the WhatsApp groups involved was ordered to be permanently disabled.
Case details
Case Title: Network18 Media & Investments Limited v. Krishnaa @ Jagtar Singh & Ors.
Case Number: CS(COMM) 328/2024
For Plaintiff: Advocates Abhilasha Nautiyal & Tarun Tripathy
For Defendants/Platforms: Advocates Swati Agarwal, Shashank Mishra, Vaarish Sawlani, Akshi Rastogi, Rithika Mathur & Anupamaa Reddy Eleti for WhatsApp; Advocate Syed Urfee Haider for Bharti Airtel Ltd.
Why the order matters
Legal experts say the ruling reinforces the judiciary’s growing intolerance toward digital frauds that exploit familiar brand names to win public trust. With financial scams increasingly migrating to encrypted messaging platforms, courts have emphasized quicker blocking mechanisms and brand-protection remedies.
The judgment also underscores that misuse of trademarks in financial schemes not only violates intellectual property rights but can directly lead to consumer deception and monetary loss.
The case serves as a warning that those attempting to piggyback on reputed financial platforms — especially through messaging apps — may face swift injunctive action and long-term communication restrictions.
