Delhi HC records takedown of Bombay Shaving Co ad in Gillette dispute

Bombay Shaving Company told the Delhi High Court that the advertisement and references to the court and earlier litigation had been removed from platforms under its control

The Delhi High Court on Thursday recorded compliance by Visage Lines Personal Care Private Limited, the parent company of Bombay Shaving Company, with its direction to remove an advertisement that had depicted a mock courtroom in the ongoing product disparagement dispute with Gillette India.

The company told Justice Jyoti Singh that the advertisement had been removed from all platforms under its control and that references to the court and the earlier litigation had also been taken down. The compliance was recorded without prejudice to the company's rights and contentions in the suit.

During the hearing, Gillette India objected to a fresh commercial by Bombay Shaving Company and sought immediate intervention from the court, with Senior Advocate Chander M Lall, appearing for Gillette, describing the advertisement as obscene.

Lall argued that allowing the advertisement to remain would effectively amount to the court giving its “stamp of approval to this obscenity”.

The court declined to pass any order on the new advertisement at this stage. Justice Singh said the issue could be considered only after a formal challenge was brought before the court.