Delhi High Court Directs Tech Platforms to Remove Fake Kotak Accounts

The Delhi High Court has directed major technology and social media platforms, including Meta, Google, Telegram, X, and LinkedIn, to remove hundreds of fraudulent accounts impersonating Kotak Mahindra Bank and Kotak Securities. Platforms have also been instructed to share the identity details of the operators with the bank.

Justice Vikas Mahajan passed the ad-interim injunction on October 14, 2026, in the case of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited & Anr. v. John Doe & Ors. The court held that the plaintiffs had established a prima facie case and noted that failing to grant interim relief would likely cause irreparable harm to both the financial institution and retail investors.

In addition to social media and tech platforms, the court directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to issue blocking notifications to internet and telecom service providers against specific infringing URLs listed in the order's annexures.

The legal action targets unidentified “John Doe” defendants who allegedly used Kotak's registered trademarks and brand names across WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, Facebook pages, YouTube accounts, and LinkedIn profiles. According to submissions recorded in the order, these operators ran fraudulent investment schemes by promising guaranteed high returns, inducing investors to transfer funds, and subsequently making the money inaccessible. Kotak informed the court that it had received over 100 client complaints, with individual losses ranging between ₹1 lakh and ₹10 lakh.

The court has formally restrained the unidentified defendants from using the “KOTAK,” “KOTAK BANK,” and “KOTAK SECURITIES” names and logos. They are also prohibited from impersonating the bank's senior management, employees, or authorized representatives on any platform. Furthermore, the platforms must supply KYC details, contact information, photographs, and identification proof of the individuals operating the infringing accounts.

Defendants 2 through 7—comprising Meta Platforms, WhatsApp, Google, Telegram, X Corp, and LinkedIn—have been granted four weeks to file their replies. The matter is scheduled to appear before the Joint Registrar on December 7, 2026, and subsequently before the court on February 8, 2027.

"The increasing misuse of established financial brands through digital channels poses a serious threat to retail investors and corporate reputation alike. This judicial intervention highlights the critical accountability of digital platforms in curbing financial fraud and protecting consumer trust. For businesses operating in the digital economy, proactive brand monitoring and swift legal recourse are no longer optional—they are essential components of enterprise risk management." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes