Serum Institute Allocated Interim Relief in Massive 100 Crore Defamation Lawsuit, Securing Positive Incentive

Serum Institute of India (SII) recieved a temporary by The Bombay High Court in its defamation case, where Serum Institute is demanding compensation of ₹100 crore. This decision comes as a result of the alleged dissemination of misleading information about the company by various entities and individuals, ensuring protection against unwarranted harm.

“Today, Justice RI Chagla delivered a landmark verdict, shining a beacon of impartiality and fairness “

Based on the judge’s ruling, it is apparent that the content under scrutiny is unequivocally defamatory without any reasonable grounds presented by the defendants to substantiate their statements.

The High Court has issued a temporary injunction, preventing the defendants named as Yohan Tengra, his organization Anarchy for Freedom India, and Ambar Koiri and his organization Awaken India Movement, from disseminating any materials that defame or criticize the Serum Institute of India (SII) or its employees. This restraining order aims to safeguard SII and its staff members from the publication of any content that may harm their reputation or cause undue harm.

According to the order, the defendants are prohibited from creating, publishing, reproducing, circulating, speaking, or communicating any derogatory or defamatory statements. Additionally, they are instructed to promptly delete and remove any defamatory videos and contents. This order ensures that the defendants are restrained from engaging in any actions that could harm the reputation or character of others.

The legal suit filed by Parinam Associates strongly highlights that the defendants have been engaging in the dissemination of false and misleading information regarding the ongoing legal proceedings involving the Serum Institute of India (SII). This action asserts that the defendants have been involved in the spread of inaccurate details related to SII’s legal involvement, thereby warranting legal action against them.

According to the lawsuit filed by SII, it was stated that their websites were openly accessible to everyone without requiring any subscription beforehand.

SII categorically denies any claims of plagiarism in this paragraph. The statement addresses a specific situation where individuals were posting content alleging that Covishield, a vaccine developed by SII to combat COVID-19, was responsible for multiple deaths due to side effects. This information has been accurately conveyed without the use of any plagiarized material.

These social media posts not only focused on the Serum Institute of India (SII), but they also specifically singled out Adar Poonawala, the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

The Serum Institute of India has recently initiated legal proceedings by filing a defamation suit amounting to Rs 100 crore against an individual residing in Chennai. This volunteer had participated in the vaccine trial conducted by the Institute to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, the volunteer made claims that the vaccine triggered various adverse reactions, including neurological impairment. The Serum Institute, in response, has taken legal action to protect its reputation and refute these allegations.

The Serum Institute has established a collaboration with AstraZeneca, a renowned pharmaceutical company, and the University of Oxford to manufacture the Covishield vaccine within the nation. This particular vaccine has garnered significant attention as a viable choice for numerous developing nations due to its affordable cost and the convenience of transportation and storage at regular temperatures.

On November 21, the volunteer took the initiative to send a legal notice and filed a lawsuit against Serum Institute, seeking Rs 5 crore. Nevertheless, the company firmly refuted the accusations, dismissing them as baseless and unfounded. Declaring the claims as “malicious” and “misconceived,” a representative of Serum Institute released a statement. They expressed their sympathy towards the volunteer’s medical condition but emphasized that there was no connection whatsoever between the vaccine trial and the volunteer’s health situation.

The accusation made against the company is unfounded and malicious, as the volunteer in question was clearly informed by the medical team that the health complications he experienced were unrelated to the Covid vaccine trial he participated in. Despite being explicitly informed of this fact, the volunteer has chosen to publicly attribute his medical issues to the vaccine trial, thereby unjustly tarnishing the company’s reputation.

According to an official statement, it was alleged that the individual was deliberately disseminating false and harmful information for personal financial gain. The statement further stated that the Serum Institute of India intends to pursue legal action and claim damages exceeding Rs100 crore to counter these baseless accusations. The organization strongly refutes these malicious claims and is committed to defending its reputation.

In a recent development, an individual has made a strong demand for an immediate halt to the ongoing vaccine trial, along with a suspension of all plans related to its manufacturing and distribution. Failure to comply with this demand may result in legal consequences. As outlined in the legal notice, the participant in the trial exhibited a significant “behavioural change” and appeared to be disconnected from his surroundings, raising concerns about the trial’s safety and efficacy. It is important to thoroughly investigate and address these concerns in order to ensure the well-being of all participants and the integrity of the trial.

The individual’s personal experience after receiving the vaccine vividly demonstrates that it was not as safe as initially portrayed, revealing a concerted effort by all involved parties to conceal its adverse effects. The notice emphasizes the intense trauma endured by the individual, encompassing both physical and psychological distress. The vaccine’s impact on their well-being resulted in a profound neurological deterioration, magnifying the severity of their suffering.

On December 22, 2022, the High Court, in a ruling, denied Serum’s request for immediate relief due to the limited timeframe available to thoroughly consider the arguments put forth by the parties seeking relief.

The defendants have submitted a response to the lawsuit through their legal representatives, Advocates Nilesh Ojha and Abhishek, in which they have requested the court to dismiss the case.

In addition to their initial claim, they have lodged a counter claim, requesting the legal authorities to prosecute the Serum Institute of India (SII) due to allegations of disseminating inaccurate information regarding the impacts of the Covishield vaccine.

Proofread & Published By Naveenika Chauhan