Shilpa Shetty-Raj Kundra Defamation Case: Mumbai Court Restrains Influencer Shamita Yadav From Posting Content Against Couple

In a significant move for celebrity rights in the digital age, the Mumbai City Civil Court has granted interim relief to actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, by issuing a temporary gag order against social media influencer Shamita Yadav, popularly known as 'The Ranting Gola'. The order, passed on July 17, 2026, restrains Yadav from creating or circulating any further defamatory content and mandates the immediate removal of two specific Instagram reels that were at the heart of the couple's defamation suit. 'Growing Up Was Never Part of the Plan': Shilpa Shetty Shares Quirky Video on Her Birthday, Hubby Raj Kundra and Sister Shamita Wish Her (Watch Videos).

Mumbai Court Orders Interim Injunction Against 'The Ranting Gola'

Additional Sessions Judge S.M. Bukke issued the interim injunction after Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra filed a civil defamation suit in April 2026, seeking ₹15 crore in damages. The couple alleged that two Instagram reels, posted by Yadav in February 2026 from her account "the.ranting.gola" (which boasts 1.6 million followers), falsely portrayed them as criminals.

The impugned content reportedly suggested that Raj Kundra targets minors and accused Shilpa Shetty of endorsing communal discord and misleading the public. One of the videos had amassed over 3.64 lakh likes, leading to widespread circulation and severe damage to the couple's reputation, as contended by their legal team. The court found a "strong prima facie case" in favor of the plaintiffs, noting that the videos were "prima facie not based on true facts" and that the balance of convenience lay with granting temporary protection to prevent irreparable harm. The order explicitly restrains Yadav, her agents, and representatives from publishing, uploading, circulating, republishing, or disseminating any defamatory or scandalous statements against the couple or their companies across any electronic medium until the next hearing, scheduled for August 21, 2026.

Advocates Pradeep D. Gandhy, P.G. Chudasama, Laxman Yadav, Gaurav Gandhi, Atharva Navander, and Abhineet N. Pange represented Shetty and Kundra in the proceedings.

Celebrities Upholding Personality Rights

This case marks another instance in a growing trend where Indian celebrities are actively using legal recourse to protect their personality rights and reputations from online defamation. The suit filed by Shetty and Kundra notably relied on precedents, including an ex parte interim injunction issued by a Bengaluru city civil court on February 6, 2026, which protected Shetty's name, image, and persona from unauthorised use.

Earlier in March 2026, the Bombay High Court had also ordered e-commerce platforms and AI-content sites to take down deepfakes and other infringing content targeting Shilpa Shetty's personality rights. Similarly, in July 2021, the Bombay High Court had directed the removal of video content alleged to be defamatory against Shetty in connection with her husband's legal proceedings at the time. Shilpa Shetty’s Viral ‘Husband on the Line’ Comment; the True Story Behind Raj Kundra’s Spiritual Shift.

Shamita Yadav herself is no stranger to legal challenges concerning her online commentary. In May 2026, the Delhi High Court ordered the takedown of one of her tweets following a defamation suit filed by BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia. This ongoing legal battle underscores the judiciary's role in balancing freedom of expression with an individual's right to reputation and privacy in the rapidly evolving landscape of digital media. The outcome of the next hearing on August 21, 2026, will be keenly watched as it could further shape the legal framework governing online content creation and celebrity rights.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 20, 2026 07:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).