In a recent decision, the Delhi High Court has directed a resident of Noida to delete social media posts that claimed the discovery of a centipede in a tub of Amul ice cream. The order also prohibits her from making any further similar claims on various social media platforms.
Justice Manmeet P S Arora presided over the case brought forth by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, the entity behind the Amul brand. The court issued an ad interim ex-parte order restraining the customer, identified as Deepa Devi, from further disseminating the alleged misinformation.
The controversy began on June 15, when Deepa Devi posted an image on the social media platform ‘X’—previously known as Twitter—purporting to show a centipede in an ice cream tub she claimed to have ordered via an instant delivery service. The post quickly caught the public’s attention and raised concerns about the product’s safety.
The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation responded by filing a lawsuit, disputing the authenticity of Devi’s claims. In court, the company emphasized its rigorous quality control processes, from milk procurement to the final stages of production in their ISO-certified facilities. These procedures, the company argued, made the presence of a centipede in a sealed tub virtually impossible.
The court’s order noted the defendants’ lack of cooperation, as they failed to appear in court or submit the ice cream tub for examination, which could have substantiated their claim. This non-appearance, according to the court, supported the company’s position.
Under the terms of the court order, Deepa Devi and her husband must remove the disputed social media posts within three days. Should they fail to comply, Amul has the authority to request the platform ‘X’ to remove the posts.
The court further prohibited the defendants from posting any content that could harm the reputation of the plaintiff or its products, pending further orders. This includes any publication on internet platforms or in the media regarding the incident.
