TV Today Network has moved Delhi High Court against ABP News over the use of the name ‘Maha Dangal’, claiming it is too similar to Aaj Tak’s show ‘Dangal’. The Court has issued notice, but pointed out that the word ‘Dangal’ itself cannot be trademarked.
New Delhi: TV Today Network, which runs the popular Hindi news channel Aaj Tak, has approached the Delhi High Court with a legal case against the ABP News Channel, which is run by Ananda Bazaar Patrika (ABP).
TV Today has raised an objection over the name of ABP’s prime-time show ‘Maha Dangal’, saying it is very similar to Aaj Tak’s well-known debate show ‘Dangal’.
In its petition, TV Today claimed that the name ‘Maha Dangal’ is “deceptively similar to ‘Dangal'”, which is their popular news debate show. The matter was heard by Justice Amit Bansal of the Delhi High Court, who issued a notice to ABP News based on the plea filed by TV Today.
During the hearing, Justice Bansal made an important observation.
He said that,
“viewers would be aware of the channel they watch” and also added that “the word ‘Dangal’ itself cannot be trademarked”.
The Court further remarked that,
“there is even a film named ‘Dangal'”, indicating that the word is commonly used and cannot be claimed exclusively.
Advocate Hrishikesh Baruah appeared on behalf of TV Today.
He argued that,
the ABP show ‘Maha Dangal’ is hosted by Priyanka Tripathi, who was earlier associated with Aaj Tak and used to host their ‘Dangal’ show.
Baruah told the Court that,
this change could be “creating confusion in the minds of the viewers” because viewers may think that both shows are the same or connected due to the similar names and the presence of the same anchor.
However, Baruah clarified that the case is not about Tripathi leaving Aaj Tak and joining ABP.
He stated that,
TV Today is “suing ABP only for the use of the name ‘Maha Dangal'” and that the legal complaint “does not have anything to do with Tripathi’s move to ABP”.
After hearing both sides, Justice Bansal asked whether the issue could be solved without going through a full legal process. He asked Advocate Baruah if it could be resolved through mediation since both TV Today and ABP are “prominent TV channels”.
In response, Baruah said “it may be considered on the next date of hearing”, leaving the door open for a peaceful resolution.
Advocate Utsav Trivedi also appeared alongside Advocate Baruah in this case.
To give some background, Priyanka Tripathi, after leaving Aaj Tak, rejoined ABP News in October 2024 as the Vice President of News & Programming.
At ABP, she now leads the channel’s prime-time programming and currently hosts two major shows: ‘Mahadangal’ and ‘Janhith’. After Tripathi’s exit from Aaj Tak, the hosting of their ‘Dangal’ show has been taken over by another journalist, Sahil Joshi.
This case brings attention to the growing importance of program titles and branding in the Indian television news industry. With similar-sounding show names and popular anchors moving between channels, the legal boundaries of content identity and viewer clarity are now being tested in courts.
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