The Delhi High Court has admonished Global Music Junction Private Limited for sending notices to multiple entities, including social media platforms, demanding them to cease monetizing the songs of Bhojpuri singer and actor Khesari Lal Yadav (also known as Shatrughan Kumar).

Justice Sanjeev Narula pointed out that the notices, which instructed entities to adhere to an ex-parte order of the High Court, were in fact misrepresentations of the court's directives.

The conflict originated from a lawsuit filed by Global Music in 2022 against Yadav, alleging a breach of an agreement not to collaborate with any third party to develop new intellectual property or content until September 30, 2025.

A single judge granted an ex-parte injunction in favor of Global Music on October 14, 2022. However, this order was later vacated. Subsequently, Global Music filed an appeal, and in September 2023, a division bench issued certain directions in relation to the appeal.

The division bench issued a restraint against Yadav, prohibiting him from collaborating with any company other than Global Music to monetize his new songs until September 30, 2025. However, the bench clarified that Yadav is permitted to continue his activities in the Bhojpuri film industry, as well as his performances on national TV channels, social media platforms, and stages.

In the most recent update to the dispute, Yadav filed an application before the single judge, alleging serious violations of the Division Bench's order. He claimed that Global Music, in an effort to enforce the directives, sent notices to various entities, including YouTube. These notices assert that Yadav cannot sell his new songs to distributors, music companies, producers, etc., other than Global Music Junction, unless the music production company refuses to accept the delivery of the new songs, as specified in the Court's 2023 order.

Yadav contended that the notices constituted contempt of court, as they were issued based on the ex-parte order of the single judge, resulting in a significant number of his songs being unjustly removed and now inaccessible on YouTube. While Global Music requested time to submit a response, the Court noted that it had clearly exceeded the specific directives outlined in the Division Bench order.

The Court stated that the violation "prima facie renders them liable for contempt" and acknowledged Yadav's assertion that the notices issued by Global Music have "significantly impacted" his professional engagements, resulting in a lack of work prospects as no entity is now willing to associate with him.

The Court further asserted that Global Music could not have enforced the ex-parte order as it had ceased to exist. Consequently, the company had misrepresented the directions passed in its case.

After Global Music protested that such direction would not allow it to directly seek enforcement, Justice Narula said that the company could seek enforcement through the Court by filing an application and the Court would then issue necessary directions.

Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi and advocates Samiksha Godiyal, Govind Manoharan, A Karthik, Smrithi Suresh, Sreepriya, Gunjan Rathore, Nishchaiy Sharma represented Khesari Lal Yadav.

Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal and advocates Yashvardhan, Kritika Nagpal, Akshay Gupta, Gyanendra Shukla, Gaurav Saxena and Adityaraj Patodia represented Global Music Junction Private Limited.

Advocates Neel Mason, Vihan Dang, Aditya Mathur and Pragya Jain represented YouTube