Malabar Gold & Diamonds has widened its defamation case in the Bombay High Court, targeting a series of social media posts criticizing the brand for featuring UK influencer Alishba Khalid—who had previously made anti‑India remarks—at the launch of its Birmingham showroom in September 2025.
The court has directed platforms, including X, to take down the flagged posts and restrict access to activist Vijay Patel's account within India. Following the order, the company has issued legal notices to roughly two dozen users who had amplified boycott calls that Malabar says contributed to a 40% drop in festive‑season sales.
The controversy erupted around Dhanteras 2025 following the company's brief association with London-based Pakistani influencer Alishba Khalid, who had criticised India's military Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May 2025.
While critics accuse the jewellery major of using legal muscle to silence dissent, Malabar maintains that the allegations circulating online are false narratives pushed by rivals with the intent to damage its reputation among Indian consumers.
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