Delhi High Court restraints Sona Mandhira from using trademark "SONA" belonging to Sona BLW Precision Forgings

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Synopsis

Sona BLW claimed that Sona Mandhira had deliberately and illegally adopted a completely identical trade name "SONA" as part of its corporate name.

The Delhi High Court has recently granted an interim injunction restraining Sona Mandhira from using Sona BLW’s trademark "SONA" in any manner or any other trademark/trade name/logo containing ‘SONA’.

A bench of Justice Navin Chawla noted, "The plaintiffs are likely to suffer grave irreparable harm if the defendants are not restrained from using the word 'SONA' as part of the Corporate Name and/or as trademark during the pendency of the present Suit".

Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd. [Sona BLW] had filed a suit against use of its registered and well-known trademark "SONA", by Sona Mandhira Pvt. Ltd. [Sona Mandhira] with respect to similar/ancillary services and goods, such as automobile parts etc. contending such use to be unauthorised, illegal and a malafide adoption.

Sona BLW claimed that Sona Mandhira had deliberately and illegally adopted a completely identical trade name "SONA" as part of its corporate name, despite being fully aware of Sona BLW and its predecessor's uninterrupted, long, and continuous usage of the said trademark. 

It has been alleged that the corporate name of Sona Mandhira was only changed recently on June 22, 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. 

Whereas, Sona Mandhira contended that the present lis was essentially a family dispute between Sunjay Kapur i.e. Chairman of the Sona BLW, Mandira Koirala, sister of Sunjay Kapur and Rani Kapur, mother of Sunjay Kapur.

However, Justice Navin Chawla of High Court of Delhi on 22.02.2023 granted an interim injunction restraining Sona Mandhira from using Sona BLW’s trademark/trade name/logo "SONA" in any manner or any other trademark/trade name/logo containing ‘SONA’.

Sona BLW was represented by Senior Advocates Akhil Sibal and Rajshekhar Rao briefed by the team of Karanjawala & Company led by Advocates Meghna Mishra, Partner, Ankit Rajgarhia, Principal Associate, Mr. Tarun Sharma, Sr. Associate, Mr. Meeran Maqbool and Mr. Karanveer Kathuria, Associates.

Sona Mandhira was represented by Senior Advocates Rajiv Nayar and Dayan Krishnan, briefed by the team of Agarwal Law Associates.

Case Title: Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited & Anr. Vs. Sona Mandhira Pvt. Ltd.