Delhi High Court · 2025
Case Details
CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 1 of 5 $~26 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CS(COMM) 313/2023 & I.A. 9469/2023 I.A. 160/2024 I.A. 48628/2024 I.A. 22880/2025 I.A. 22883/2025 I.A. 23626/2025 SAGA MUSIC PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. .....Plaintiffs Through: Ms. Swathi Sukumar, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Nikhil Chawla, Ms. Mansha Mehta, Mr. Sreejan Pankaj and Mr. Ritik Raghuwanshi, Advs. versus SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INDIA PVT. LTD & ORS. .....Defendants Through: Mr. Gautam Narayan, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Himanshu Satija, Mr. Harshit Khanduja, Mr. Harsh Saxena, Ms. Ashmita, Mr. Shevaaz Khan and Mr. Anshul, Advs. for D-1. Mr. Harsh Kaushik, Ms. Anushree Rauta, Mr. Shwetank Tripathi, Mr. Deepank Singhal, Ms. Sejjal Malik & Mr. Harsh Parakash, Advs. for D-2. Mr. Abhishek Malhotra, Sr. Adv. with Ms. Raghavi Shukla, Mr. Kartikay Dutta & Ms. Anukriti Trivedi, Advs. for D-5. CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA O R D E R % 07.11.2025 I.A. 13661/2023(for deletion of defendant no. 1) 1. Learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of defendant no. 1 states that defendant no. 1/SONY may be deleted from the array of parties. 1.1. He states that in addition to the disclosures made in this application, This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 12/11/2025 at 12:06:58 CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 2 of 5 the applicant/defendant no. 1 has also filed a reply to CRL. M.A. 30974/2025 in CS(COMM) 740/2023, where additional information has been disclosed pertaining to the agreement dated 17.07.2018 executed between the defendant no. 1 and Mr. Hardip Singh Sidhu. 1.2. He states that the said reply will also be filed under the cover of the index in these pleadings for the purposes of making a complete disclosure. 1.3. He states that in the view of these facts, defendant no. 1 may be deleted from the array of parties, since defendant no. 1 is left with no right, title or interest in the subject work. 1.4. He states that defendant no. 1 clarifies that it is not claiming any rights in the subject work with the execution of the agreement dated 17.07.2018. 2. Learned senior counsel for the plaintiff states on instructions that relying upon the disclosures made by defendant no. 1 in its reply CRL M.A. 30974/2025 filed in CS(COMM) 740/2023, plaintiff consents to the deletion of defendant no.1. 3. In view of the aforesaid submission of the plaintiff and defendant no. 1, I.A. 13661/2023 is allowed, defendant no. 1 is hereby deleted from the array of parties. 4. However, it is directed that in case any further documents are required by any party to the suit from defendant no. 1 herein to substantiate its case, such party will be at liberty to summon the said documents from defendant no. 1. 5. Learned senior counsel for the defendant no. 1 states on instructions that defendant no. 1 will abide by the directions issued by the Court for production of documents as and when directed. The statement of defendant This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 12/11/2025 at 12:06:58 CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 3 of 5 no. 1 is taken on record and it is bound down to the same. 6. Accordingly, the application stands disposed of. 7. The plaintiff is directed to file an amended memo of parties reflecting the defendant no. 1’s status as deleted, however, without changing the arrangement of the numbers, within two (2) weeks. CS(COMM) 313/2023 8. The present suit has been seeking the following reliefs: - (i) A decree of declaration declaring that the utilization of the sound and video recordings and the underlying musical and literary Works namely, “Sydney Opera House Live Concert by Satinder Sartaaj”, or any part thereof by the Plaintiffs, pursuant to agreement dated 16.08.2022 between the Plaintiff No 2 and Defendant No 5 does not amount to infringement of any legal right of the Defendant No. 1 and 2; (ii) A decree of permanent injunction restraining the Defendant No 1 and 2, their directors, officers, servants, agents, employees, successors, representatives, assignees etc, from issuing any groundless threat of legal proceedings against the Plaintiffs or its licensees, in respect of sound and video recordings and the underlying musical and literary works namely, “Sydney Opera House Live Concert by Satinder Sartaaj”, or any part thereof, including the recording of the song “Jalsa” sung and performed by Defendant No 5 in the said concert; (iii) A decree of permanent injunction restraining the Defendant No 1 and 2 from issuing any copyright strike to Defendant No 3, in relation to broadcast of “Sydney Opera House Live Concert by Satinder Sartaaj”, or any part thereof, including the recording of the song “Jalsa” sung and performed by Defendant No 5 in the said concert, on You Tube channel(s), and consequentially restrain Defendant No 5 from This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 12/11/2025 at 12:06:58 CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 4 of 5 acting on the copyright strike issued by the Plaintiffs; 9. Parties submit that the only contesting parties are plaintiff and defendant no. 2/Hardip Singh Sidhu and defendant no. 5/Satinder Singh Sartaaj. 10. Learned counsel for the plaintiff and defendant nos. 2 to 5 state that the captioned suit can be disposed of in view of the subsequent suits CS(COMM) 658/2023 and CS(COMM) 740/2023 filed between the parties; as it is only leading to multiplicity of proceedings. In view of the aforesaid submissions and with the consent of the parties, the present suit is disposed of with the following directions: - (a) The prayer clause (i) and (ii) are reliefs which would be available to the plaintiff herein in CS(COMM) 658/2023. (b) The reliefs claimed in prayer clause (iii) would be agitated by the plaintiff herein in CS(COMM) 740/2023 filed by defendant no. 2 /Hardip Singh Sidhu. (c) Parties acknowledge that an interim order dated 15.05.2023 in these proceedings is operating in favour of the plaintiff, which reads as under: - 19. In view of the above, the Court is satisfied that Plaintiffs have made out a prima facie case in their favour and in case no ex parte ad interim injunction is granted, they will suffer an irreparable loss; balance of convenience also lies in favour of the Plaintiffs and against Defendants No. 1 and 2. 20. Till the next date of hearing. Defendant Nos. 1 and 2 are restrained from issuing any groundless threats of legal proceedings against the Plaintiffs or its licensees, in respect of sound and video recordings and the underlying musical and literary works, namely This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 12/11/2025 at 12:06:58 CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 5 of 5 "Sydney Opera House Live Concert by Sartaaj Singh" or any part thereof, including the recording of song "Jalsa" sung and performed by Defendant No. 5 in the said concert, or initiating a "copyright strike" on YouTube to Defendant No. 3 and/ or Defendant No. 4, in respect thereof. Parties agree that notwithstanding the disposal of this suit today, this interim order will continue to operate until the final determination of I.A. 20506/2023 filed in CS(COMM) 740/2023. (d) The plaintiff has sought liberty to rely upon the pleadings filed by the defendant no. 1/Sony Music in these proceedings to agitate its right in CS(COMM) 658/2023 and CS(COMM) 740/2023. The liberty sought is granted and plaintiff will remain at liberty to rely upon those pleadings in the aforementioned suits. 11. With the aforesaid consent directions, this suit, along with all pending applications, stands disposed of. 12. Future dates are cancelled. MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA, J NOVEMBER 7, 2025/hp/ng/AJ
CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 1 of 5 $~26 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CS(COMM) 313/2023 & I.A. 9469/2023 I.A. 160/2024 I.A. 48628/2024 I.A. 22880/2025 I.A. 22883/2025 I.A. 23626/2025 SAGA MUSIC PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. .....Plaintiffs Through: Ms. Swathi Sukumar, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Nikhil Chawla, Ms. Mansha Mehta, Mr. Sreejan Pankaj and Mr. Ritik Raghuwanshi, Advs. versus SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INDIA PVT. LTD & ORS. .....Defendants Through: Mr. Gautam Narayan, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Himanshu Satija, Mr. Harshit Khanduja, Mr. Harsh Saxena, Ms. Ashmita, Mr. Shevaaz Khan and Mr. Anshul, Advs. for D-1. Mr. Harsh Kaushik, Ms. Anushree Rauta, Mr. Shwetank Tripathi, Mr. Deepank Singhal, Ms. Sejjal Malik & Mr. Harsh Parakash, Advs. for D-2. Mr. Abhishek Malhotra, Sr. Adv. with Ms. Raghavi Shukla, Mr. Kartikay Dutta & Ms. Anukriti Trivedi, Advs. for D-5. CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA O R D E R % 07.11.2025 I.A. 13661/2023(for deletion of defendant no. 1) 1. Learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of defendant no. 1 states that defendant no. 1/SONY may be deleted from the array of parties. 1.1. He states that in addition to the disclosures made in this application, This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 12/11/2025 at 12:06:58 CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 2 of 5 the applicant/defendant no. 1 has also filed a reply to CRL. M.A. 30974/2025 in CS(COMM) 740/2023, where additional information has been disclosed pertaining to the agreement dated 17.07.2018 executed between the defendant no. 1 and Mr. Hardip Singh Sidhu. 1.2. He states that the said reply will also be filed under the cover of the index in these pleadings for the purposes of making a complete disclosure. 1.3. He states that in the view of these facts, defendant no. 1 may be deleted from the array of parties, since defendant no. 1 is left with no right, title or interest in the subject work. 1.4. He states that defendant no. 1 clarifies that it is not claiming any rights in the subject work with the execution of the agreement dated 17.07.2018. 2. Learned senior counsel for the plaintiff states on instructions that relying upon the disclosures made by defendant no. 1 in its reply CRL M.A. 30974/2025 filed in CS(COMM) 740/2023, plaintiff consents to the deletion of defendant no.1. 3. In view of the aforesaid submission of the plaintiff and defendant no. 1, I.A. 13661/2023 is allowed, defendant no. 1 is hereby deleted from the array of parties. 4. However, it is directed that in case any further documents are required by any party to the suit from defendant no. 1 herein to substantiate its case, such party will be at liberty to summon the said documents from defendant no. 1. 5. Learned senior counsel for the defendant no. 1 states on instructions that defendant no. 1 will abide by the directions issued by the Court for production of documents as and when directed. The statement of defendant This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 12/11/2025 at 12:06:58 CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 3 of 5 no. 1 is taken on record and it is bound down to the same. 6. Accordingly, the application stands disposed of. 7. The plaintiff is directed to file an amended memo of parties reflecting the defendant no. 1’s status as deleted, however, without changing the arrangement of the numbers, within two (2) weeks. CS(COMM) 313/2023 8. The present suit has been seeking the following reliefs: - (i) A decree of declaration declaring that the utilization of the sound and video recordings and the underlying musical and literary Works namely, “Sydney Opera House Live Concert by Satinder Sartaaj”, or any part thereof by the Plaintiffs, pursuant to agreement dated 16.08.2022 between the Plaintiff No 2 and Defendant No 5 does not amount to infringement of any legal right of the Defendant No. 1 and 2; (ii) A decree of permanent injunction restraining the Defendant No 1 and 2, their directors, officers, servants, agents, employees, successors, representatives, assignees etc, from issuing any groundless threat of legal proceedings against the Plaintiffs or its licensees, in respect of sound and video recordings and the underlying musical and literary works namely, “Sydney Opera House Live Concert by Satinder Sartaaj”, or any part thereof, including the recording of the song “Jalsa” sung and performed by Defendant No 5 in the said concert; (iii) A decree of permanent injunction restraining the Defendant No 1 and 2 from issuing any copyright strike to Defendant No 3, in relation to broadcast of “Sydney Opera House Live Concert by Satinder Sartaaj”, or any part thereof, including the recording of the song “Jalsa” sung and performed by Defendant No 5 in the said concert, on You Tube channel(s), and consequentially restrain Defendant No 5 from This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 12/11/2025 at 12:06:58 CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 4 of 5 acting on the copyright strike issued by the Plaintiffs; 9. Parties submit that the only contesting parties are plaintiff and defendant no. 2/Hardip Singh Sidhu and defendant no. 5/Satinder Singh Sartaaj. 10. Learned counsel for the plaintiff and defendant nos. 2 to 5 state that the captioned suit can be disposed of in view of the subsequent suits CS(COMM) 658/2023 and CS(COMM) 740/2023 filed between the parties; as it is only leading to multiplicity of proceedings. In view of the aforesaid submissions and with the consent of the parties, the present suit is disposed of with the following directions: - (a) The prayer clause (i) and (ii) are reliefs which would be available to the plaintiff herein in CS(COMM) 658/2023. (b) The reliefs claimed in prayer clause (iii) would be agitated by the plaintiff herein in CS(COMM) 740/2023 filed by defendant no. 2 /Hardip Singh Sidhu. (c) Parties acknowledge that an interim order dated 15.05.2023 in these proceedings is operating in favour of the plaintiff, which reads as under: - 19. In view of the above, the Court is satisfied that Plaintiffs have made out a prima facie case in their favour and in case no ex parte ad interim injunction is granted, they will suffer an irreparable loss; balance of convenience also lies in favour of the Plaintiffs and against Defendants No. 1 and 2. 20. Till the next date of hearing. Defendant Nos. 1 and 2 are restrained from issuing any groundless threats of legal proceedings against the Plaintiffs or its licensees, in respect of sound and video recordings and the underlying musical and literary works, namely This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 12/11/2025 at 12:06:58 CS(COMM) 313/2023 Page 5 of 5 "Sydney Opera House Live Concert by Sartaaj Singh" or any part thereof, including the recording of song "Jalsa" sung and performed by Defendant No. 5 in the said concert, or initiating a "copyright strike" on YouTube to Defendant No. 3 and/ or Defendant No. 4, in respect thereof. Parties agree that notwithstanding the disposal of this suit today, this interim order will continue to operate until the final determination of I.A. 20506/2023 filed in CS(COMM) 740/2023. (d) The plaintiff has sought liberty to rely upon the pleadings filed by the defendant no. 1/Sony Music in these proceedings to agitate its right in CS(COMM) 658/2023 and CS(COMM) 740/2023. The liberty sought is granted and plaintiff will remain at liberty to rely upon those pleadings in the aforementioned suits. 11. With the aforesaid consent directions, this suit, along with all pending applications, stands disposed of. 12. Future dates are cancelled. MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA, J NOVEMBER 7, 2025/hp/ng/AJ