Dettol row: Influencers agree to edit online posts

A potential resolution appears to be on the horizon in the defamation case filed by Reckitt Benckiser India, the makers of Dettol antiseptic liquid, against dermatologist Dr. Manjot Marwah and social media influencer Raj Shamani. During a hearing at the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, lawyers representing both Dr. Marwah and Shamani informed Justice Saurabh Banerjee that their clients are willing to take down or significantly edit online content that Reckitt deemed critical of their flagship product.  

This development comes after Reckitt Benckiser initiated legal proceedings, accusing Dr. Marwah, Shamani, and another influencer, Ritik Chaturvedi, of disseminating "false, misleading, disparaging and defamatory" statements about Dettol. The contentious content stemmed from a podcast episode hosted by Raj Shamani featuring Dr. Marwah, and a subsequent Instagram reel that amplified remarks questioning Dettol's suitability for use on skin.  

While the Court has not yet formally closed the case, it has acknowledged a draft of the proposed settlement terms. Justice Banerjee directed all involved parties to submit a formal application under Order 23 Rule 3 of the Civil Procedure Code, which governs the official recording of compromises in civil disputes.

In a significant step towards resolution, the Court's order stated that the presented settlement terms are "taken on record." Furthermore, it instructed Dr. Marwah and Shamani to adhere to the agreed-upon conditions, specifically directing them to edit the controversial video within a 24-hour timeframe. Social media platforms have also been instructed to facilitate these content modifications as part of the settlement process.  

Senior Advocate Satvik Varma, representing Raj Shamani, conveyed a conciliatory stance to the Court, stating their readiness to "edit the portions which are disparaging according to Dettol." Advocate Ramandeep Singh, representing Dr. Marwah, informed the Court that the Instagram reel in question had already been removed. The judge further directed Chaturvedi, who was sued for reposting the reel, not to share similar content from the podcast in the future.  

The legal battle was triggered by a podcast titled “Skin Mistakes You Didn’t Know! Tanning & Sunburn EXPOSED”, released on April 1, 2025, and an Instagram reel titled “Never Use Dettol on Your Skin”, posted on April 5, 2025. Reckitt's legal team, led by Senior Advocate Chander M Lall, argued that Dr. Marwah had falsely claimed on the podcast that Dettol was "essentially a floor cleaning liquid" and harmful to human skin, alleging it "burns wounds and delays healing."  

Reckitt vehemently refuted these claims, asserting that Dettol is a licensed antiseptic, approved for skin use in India since 1936, and qualifies as a drug under Indian law. Lall argued that labeling Dettol as merely a floor disinfectant was "blatantly false and slanderous," citing the Indian Pharmacopoeia's definition of an antiseptic. He also suggested that Dr. Marwah's reference to hospitals using Betadine instead of Dettol could be construed as promoting a competitor.  

Lall had previously raised concerns about the rapid dissemination of online content and the potential for irreparable damage to Dettol's reputation, given Dr. Marwah's significant social media following.  

With both Dr. Marwah and Shamani expressing their willingness to settle by removing or editing the contested content, the Delhi High Court has paved the way for a potential compromise, directing the formalization of the settlement terms. The resolution, if finalized, would see the removal of the specific criticisms against Dettol from the online sphere.  

Reckitt Benckiser was represented by a team of lawyers including Senior Advocate Chander M Lall and Advocates Nancy Roy. Raj Shamani was represented by Senior Advocate Satvik Varma and his legal team.