Malabar Gold & Diamonds, a major Indian jewellery retailer, is facing intense public backlash and a legal battle following its decision to invite a social media influencer, known for her anti-India stance, to a high-profile event in the UK.
The controversy stems from the company’s inauguration of its newly expanded showroom in Birmingham on 6 September 2025. The event, headlined by Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, also included an invitation to Alishba Khalid, an Instagram influencer whose social media history contains posts condemning India and supporting Pakistan.
Malabar Gold UK is collaborating with Pakistani influencers who don’t care for Indian followers and calling ‘Operation Sindoor’ a cowardly act!
This is not acceptable at any cost @Malabartweets
M P Ahammed from Kerala is the owner of the Malabar Group of companies. pic.twitter.com/wReYH6XkDW
— Vijay Patel (@vijaygajera) September 10, 2025
Khalid’s now-deleted posts from May 2025, which have been widely circulated, criticized India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ labelling it a “cowardly act” and ending with “PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.” In other posts, she expressed indifference to her Indian followers and issued statements interpreted as threats, such as, “Just wait now our turn will come. And we will answer with truth and unshakable strength.”
Company Responds with Lawsuit, Not Apology
Instead of issuing a public apology amid the growing outcry, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, owned by M.P. Ahammed, sought legal recourse. The company filed a suit in the Bombay High Court, seeking an injunction to remove what it called “defamatory” social media posts that linked the brand to the influencer’s political views.
During a hearing on 29 September 2025, before Justice Sandeep V. Marne, the company’s counsel argued that Khalid’s engagement was arranged by a third-party agency, JAB Studios, and was finalized before the Pahalgam attack and her subsequent controversial posts. The counsel contended the company was unaware of her anti-India stance at the time and has since severed ties. They alleged the online campaign was a “strategic move by competitors” to damage their business during the festive season.
The court granted an ad-interim injunction in favour of Malabar Gold, ordering several social media platforms to take down 442 identified URLs and to prevent further publication of the material.
Backlash Intensifies as Critics Accuse Company of Silencing Dissent Seeking Jail
The legal move has intensified the debate, with critics arguing the company is using the court to silence public criticism over its vetting process rather than addressing the core issue of its association with the influencer.
Prominent among the critics is Vijay Patel (Twitter handle @vijaygajera), who has been vocal in his condemnation. In a tweet on 3 October 2025, he stated, “Instead of being ashamed, the Malabar group… reached court.”
Patel has since posted that the company’s legal notice threatens him with potential detention in civil prison for up to three months for his tweets. In a defiant response, he wrote, “I am willing to go to jail for the pride of our Army… Let’s see who wins: your money, power, or the support of Indians.”
The legal notice, excerpts of which he shared online, seeks directions for his detention “in civil prison for a period of up to three months,…” and the removal of his tweets, framing them as non-compliant with the court’s order.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
