Kerala-based jewellery giant Malabar Gold & Diamonds is embroiled in a significant controversy following its decision to extend a VIP invitation to a known anti-India and pro-Pakistan social media influencer for the inauguration of its newly expanded showroom in Birmingham, UK. The event, held on 6 September 2025 and headlined by Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, has drawn sharp criticism for the company’s association with Alishba Khalid, an Instagram influencer with a history of posting virulently anti-India content.
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
The controversy centres on Khalid’s social media activity, particularly her posts from May 2025 condemning India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’. In now-deleted but widely circulated posts, she labelled the operation a “cowardly act,” accused India of hypocrisy, and ended with “PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.” In another post, she explicitly stated, “I know 60% of my followers are from India and to be honest, I don’t care anymore,” and concluded with a prayer for Pakistan’s protection from harm and evil. A further post from May 7 threatened, “Just wait now our turn will come. And we will answer with truth and unshakable strength.”
Sends Legal Notice Instead Of Apology
Facing a massive public backlash and accusations of sympathising with Pakistan, Malabar Gold, owned by M.P. Ahammed, has taken a legal route instead of issuing a public apology. The company filed a suit in the Bombay High Court, seeking an injunction to remove what it termed “defamatory” social media posts connecting the brand to the influencer’s political views.
In a hearing on 29 September 2025, before Justice Sandeep V. Marne, the company’s counsel argued that the engagement of Khalid was arranged through a third-party agency, JAB Studios, and was finalized much prior to the Pahalgam attack and her subsequent controversial posts. The plaintiff contended that they were unaware of her connections to Pakistan and her anti-India stance at the time of hiring and have since discontinued her services. They alleged that 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 the listed social media platforms (Defendant Nos. 1 to 7) to pull down the 442 URLs identified by the company and restraining them from permitting further publication of such material. The ruling has intensified the debate, with critics arguing the company is attempting to silence public outrage over its poor vetting process rather than addressing the core issue of its association with a figure who has openly celebrated violence against India.
Instead of being ashamed, the Malabar group owned by M P Ahammed reached court.
They are sending notice to all those who have highlighted their recruitment of a Pakistani Instagram influencer who has mocked our Operation Sindoor.
On this Diwali, do they want to face another… https://t.co/1iU4sqz79s pic.twitter.com/WB2veN3jmo
— Vijay Patel (@vijaygajera) October 3, 2025
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