Fact of the Case:
YC Electric Vehicle, India’s leading e-rickshaw manufacturer and registered proprietor of the marks "YATRI" and "YC," discovered that Bhuvneesh Kapoor (proprietor of Two Friends Auto Electric Co.) was using marks such as "SAHYATRI" and "YATRI" on e-rickshaws and product listings on platforms like IndiaMart. The plaintiff alleged that this use was confusingly similar to its trademarks and amounted to trademark infringement, passing off, and copyright violation.
Procedural Background in Brief:
The plaintiff filed a suit seeking a permanent injunction along with ancillary reliefs. The Delhi High Court granted exemption from pre-institution mediation and other procedural exemptions. The defendant was duly served via email and social media-linked contacts but remained unrepresented. The plaintiff presented evidence of prior use, trademark registration, and instances of the defendant's deceptive use of similar marks.
Reasoning of Court:
The Court found that the plaintiff was the prior and continuous user of the "YATRI" and "YC" marks since 2014, with strong goodwill and nationwide recognition in the e-rickshaw industry. The defendant’s marks "SAHYATRI" and "YATRI" were found to be deceptively similar and likely to cause confusion among the relevant class of consumers, particularly considering the low literacy and awareness levels of the target market. The Court also observed the mala fide intent of the defendant, who had directly targeted the plaintiff’s distribution network.
Decision:
The Court granted an ex parte ad-interim injunction restraining the defendant, its affiliates, and agents from using the impugned marks "YATRI," "SAHYATRI," or any mark deceptively similar to the plaintiff's "YATRI" and "YC" trademarks. The defendant was also restrained from using these marks as trade names, domain names, or in any other commercial capacity.
Case Details:
Case Title: YC Electric Vehicle vs Bhuvneesh Kapoor Proprietor of Two Friends Auto Electric Co.
Date of Order: 5th March 2025
Case Number: CS(COMM) 200/2025
Name of Court: High Court of Delhi at New Delhi
Name of Hon'ble Judge: Hon'ble Ms. Justice Mini Pushkarna
