Delhi HC Refers Mohak Mangal’s Plea Seeking Transfer of ANI’s Suit to IP Division
“As far as consolidation is concerned, I am the wrong bench; the IPD is the correct bench,” Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said during the hearing today;
The Delhi High Court on Monday, July 21, 2025, referred YouTuber Mohak Mangal’s plea seeking transfer of Asian News International’s (ANI) copyright and trademark infringement suit to the Intellectual Property Division bench.
Mangal had approached the Court seeking transfer of the suit filed by ANI from the Patiala House Court to the Delhi High Court.
A Bench presided over by Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani passed the order after briefly hearing the counsels appearing for ANI as well as YouTuber Mohak Mangal.
The High Court, in its order, noted that Advocate Siddhant Kumar, appearing for ANI, had initially raised an objection that the power to transfer such matters lies with the Commercial Appellate Division of the High Court.
However, the Court said, “It transpired during the course of hearing that the matter pending before the Patiala House Court as well as the present matter before this Court relates to the use of intellectual property by Respondent No. 1. Rule 26 of the IPD Rules provides that a petition seeking consolidation or transfer of suits may be decided by the coordinate bench in the IP Division.”
Noting that consolidation and transfer of matters are two sides of the same coin, the Court said that conflicting rulings on this aspect may result in discordant outcomes.
Accordingly, it directed that the matter, subject to orders of the Hon’ble Chief Justice, be listed before the concerned IPD bench on Friday.
Previously
During the last hearing, the Court flagged the jurisdiction issue and granted time to the counsel appearing for Mangal to place relevant documents on record.
Appearing for Mangal, Advocate Nakul Gandhi told the Court at the outset that two suits had been filed by ANI Media, one pending before the Delhi High Court and the other before the Patiala House Court.
Referring to the suit before the High Court as 'Suit 1' and the one before Patiala House Court as 'Suit 2,' Gandhi submitted that the prayers in both matters were similar and, therefore, he sought the transfer of Suit 2 to the High Court.
On the other hand, Advocate Siddhant Kumar, appearing for ANI, strongly opposed the transfer plea. He contended that the two suits were based on entirely independent causes of action. “These are commercial suits. Your Lordship will see that under Section 15(5) of the Commercial Courts Act, the power to transfer such matters lies with the Commercial Appellate Division of the High Court,” Kumar submitted.
Hearing the submission, the judge remarked, “Jurisdictional issue? Can I even hear the matter?”
In response, Advocate Gandhi sought time to place relevant orders on record to clarify the his position.
On 29 May 2025, the Delhi High had directed YouTube influencer Mohak Mangal to remove defamatory content against news agency ANI from the impugned video titled 'I am Mohak and I am not scared'. The matter was heard by the bench of Justice Amit Bansal.
The dispute arose after ANI filed a defamation suit against Mohak, alleging that the influencer published false and damaging statements in response to copyright strikes issued by the media outlet.
Case Title: Mohak Mangal v. ANI Media Pvt. Ltd. & Anr.
Date of Hearing: July 15, 2025
Bench: Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani