SC rejects Reckitt Benckiser's ad claims

Emami alleged that Reckitt Benckiser defamed the former's Zandu Balm through an ad campaign

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Hon'ble Justice Prafulla C Pant has upheld Emami Ltd's allegations against Reckitt Benckiser (RB), which defamed the former's Zandu Balm through an ad campaign earlier.

In November 2014, Reckitt, the manufacturer of 'MOOV' ointment aired an advertisement showing their product is twice more effective than Emami Limited's pain-relieving Zandu Balm. It further claimed that MOOV contained twice the number of active ingredients when compared to Zandu Balm and hence it is twice effective and stronger.

When, Emami moved to court, the Calcutta high court upheld an injunction on the advertisement issued by a district court in Calcutta. Challenging the Calcutta HC order, RB moved Supreme Court.

"Reckitt Benckiser, the defendant has been finally restrained by the Hon'ble Supreme Court from airing the impugned advertisement of MOOV pain ointment thus holding up Emami Limited's objection to the false claim about product superiority being made by Reckitt", Emami said in a statement.