Delhi High Court Restrains Entities From Using Zepto Trademark For Fraudulent Job Recruitment Schemes - 2025-08-26

Delhi High Court Restrains Entities From Using Zepto Trademark For Fraudulent Job Recruitment Schemes

In a significant move to curb digital fraud, the High Court of Delhi has granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction in favor of quick-commerce leader Zepto Private Limited. The court, presided over by Hon'ble Ms. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, ordered the immediate takedown of various websites, social media accounts, and the freezing of bank accounts that were allegedly leveraging the "Zepto" trademark to conduct fraudulent recruitment drives and business solicitations.

Case Background

Zepto, a prominent player in the Indian quick-commerce space, approached the High Court after discovering a systemic scheme involving multiple entities. These parties were operating deceptive websites, such as zeptojob.com and zeptojobs.in , and creating fake social media profiles on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. By impersonating the company's official platforms, the perpetrators reportedly deceived job seekers and prospective partners, extracting payments under the guise of recruitment fees and business franchise opportunities.

Legal Analysis and Arguments

Representing the plaintiffs, the legal team highlighted the "malafide conduct" of the defendants, noting a calculated effort to misappropriate the Zepto brand’s reputation. Counsel argued that the infringing activities—ranging from forged documents and misleading email correspondences to the unauthorized use of company management photos—posed a severe risk to public interest and the brand’s integrity.

The court analyzed the case under the framework of trademark infringement and passing off. Relying on the precedent established in * Yamini Manohar v. T.K.D. Keerthi *, the court granted an exemption from pre-institution mediation, acknowledging the urgency of the situation and the threat of irreparable loss to both the plaintiffs and unsuspecting members of the public.

Key Observations

The court's observations were stark, noting the clear evidence of fraudulent intent behind the unauthorized usage of the trademark:

• "This Court is of the prima facie opinion that Defendant Nos. 1 to 7 as well unknown entities/Defendant No. 19 by illegally using the Plaintiff’s trademarks on their websites/social media pages are trying to create an impression that their websites and social media pages, are connected and associated with the Plaintiffs."
• "The usage of the mark Zepto and logo by Defendant Nos. 1 to 7... prima facie appears to be identically similar to the Plaintiff’s registered trademarks."
• "The Plaintiffs have placed on record the fabricated communications... and documents showing unauthorised use of names and pictures of the Plaintiff’s management as well as Plaintiff’s registered trademarks intended to mislead the general public."

Court’s Decision and Future Implications

The High Court issued a comprehensive order directing: 1. Domain Blocking: The immediate suspension and blocking of infringing domain names and websites. 2. Financial Freeze: Banks are mandated to freeze accounts associated with the fraudulent activity and disclose KYC details of the beneficiaries. 3. Digital Takedowns: Meta Platforms Inc. and LinkedIn are directed to remove all deceptive accounts and posts. 4. Government Action: The Department of Telecommunication and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology are tasked with ensuring telecom service providers and internet service providers block the access and numbers associated with these fraudulent schemes.

The court has granted the plaintiffs liberty to approach the Joint Registrar for the inclusion of any subsequently discovered infringing entities. This order marks a firm stance against the rising tide of digital impersonation, ensuring that platforms cannot be used to exploit corporate goodwill for criminal gain. The matter is next listed for hearing on February 18, 2026.