Bollywood actor and performer Nora Fatehi has been named in a Rs 3 crore civil defamation suit filed by an aviation company in a Gandhinagar court in Gujarat. The company has accused Fatehi of making “derogatory and reckless” remarks about one of its chartered aircraft, allegedly causing significant damage to its reputation and business.

The case has been filed by Dunes Aviation, which claims that comments made by Fatehi on social media describing its aircraft as a “miniature,” “toy” and “Lego airplane” had a negative impact on the company’s commercial operations. Senior Civil Judge R. Agarwal is scheduled to hear the matter on September 25.

What Does the Defamation Suit Allege?

According to the lawsuit, Fatehi recorded videos while travelling inside a Cessna Citation CJ2 aircraft on a chartered flight from Mumbai to Jaipur in December last year. She allegedly shared the videos on her Instagram account, where she has more than 4.6 crore followers.

Dunes Aviation has claimed that the comments reached a large audience because of Fatehi’s substantial social media following. The company alleges that the remarks resulted in cancellations and a decline in new bookings.

In its suit, the aviation company described the actor’s statements as “reckless” and “irresponsible,” alleging that they were made without adequate technical knowledge, verification or factual understanding of the aircraft.

Company Claims Business Was Affected

Dunes Aviation has claimed that the social media comments caused serious reputational and commercial consequences. According to the company, it experienced an estimated 15 to 20 per cent decline in bookings along with an increase in cancellations following the posts.

The company further argued that the aircraft in question was a standard Cessna Citation CJ2 that was appropriately sized for the journey. It also stated that the aircraft was airworthy, certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and being legally operated under a valid Non-Scheduled Operator’s Permit (NSOP).

The company has argued that Fatehi’s large online following amplified the impact of her comments and caused substantial damage to its goodwill.

Dunes Aviation Seeks Rs 3 Crore in Damages

The civil suit, filed in April, seeks Rs 3 crore in damages from Nora Fatehi for the alleged loss of reputation and business.

In addition to monetary compensation, Dunes Aviation has asked the court to direct the removal of social media posts and other online content containing the alleged statements or references to the aircraft.

The company has also sought a public clarification from the actor regarding the comments.

The matter is now before the Gandhinagar court, with the next hearing scheduled for September 25. The allegations made by Dunes Aviation are part of the ongoing civil proceedings, and the court is yet to determine the merits of the claims.