Delhi HC Transfers ANI’s Copyright Suit Against YouTuber Mohak Mangal to Itself

The Delhi High Court has recently transferred to itself a trademark and copyright infringement suit filed by the news agency Asian News International (ANI) against YouTuber Mohak Mangal, which was earlier pending before a Patiala House Court.

Mangal had approached the court seeking the transfer of the suit filed by ANI from the Patiala House Court to the Delhi High Court.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, in the order, said:

"In view of the findings recorded above, the suit no. 2 i.e., CS(COMM) No. 447/2025 titled as ANI Media Private Limited v. Mohak Mangal and Another, pending before the Patiala House Courts, New Delhi, is directed to be transferred to this Court for being tried along with suit no. 1 i.e., CS(COMM) 573/2025 titled ANI Media Private Limited v. Mohak Mangal and Others, pending before this Court on 08.09.2025, on which date the said suit is listed.”

Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate Diya Kapur argued that both suits are similar in nature, with overlapping documentary evidence. She further submitted that the issues raised in both cases are also identical. Kapur contended that the second suit at Patiala House was filed without the leave of the court and effectively splits the same cause of action.

Finding merit in the petitioner’s arguments, the court said,“This Court also finds merit in the submission of the Petitioner that hearing of both the suits together before the same forum would be in the interest of administration of justice, as it would save judicial time and avoid conflict of orders, as it involves common issues of fact and law.”

On the other hand, ANI Media, represented by Advocate Sidhant Kumar, had argued that under Section 15(5) of the Commercial Courts Act, the transfer request be placed before the Commercial Appellate Division, and not a Single Judge.

Rejecting the objection, the court said, “Therefore, the reliance placed by Respondent No. 1 on Section 15(5) of the Act of 2015 for seeking transfer of this petition to be placed before the Division Bench of this Court fails to persuade this Court; and the objection raised by Respondent No. 1 to the jurisdiction of this Court is not substantiated.”

On July 21, the Delhi High Court referred YouTuber Mohak Mangal’s plea seeking transfer of ANI copyright and trademark infringement suit to the Intellectual Property Division bench.

The plea was heard by Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, who noted that both suits involved intellectual property issues. The judge 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.”

Previously, the high court had flagged the jurisdiction issue and granted time to the counsel appearing for Mangal to place relevant documents on record.

On 29 May 2025, the court 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 25, 2025

Bench: Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora