Raipur, August 9: International mountaineer Rahul Gupta, known as the “Mountain Man,” has filed a petition against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav in a Raipur court. The court has issued a notice to the Chief Minister, with the next hearing scheduled for August 11.
Gupta alleges that Dr. Yadav and his official social media platforms promoted Jabalpur climber Ankit Sen as the “Mountain Man.” He claims this has harmed his established identity and the legally registered trademark of “Mountain Man.”
According to Gupta, he was awarded the title of “Mountain Man” in 2014 by then-Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh for his outstanding achievements in sports. Subsequently, his legal team applied for the trademark of “Mountain Man,” which was officially registered in 2019.
Gupta stated that he conquered Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, on May 14, 2018. He asserts that over the past decade, he has established the identity of “Mountain Man” at both national and international levels.
He alleges that the promotion of Ankit Sen as the “Mountain Man” by the Chief Minister has damaged his trademark rights, personal identity, and business interests. He cites violations of his rights under Sections 28 and 29 of the Trademarks Act, 1999, along with claims of infringement of personality and publicity rights.
Gupta mentioned that he sent complaints and reminders to the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister’s office in Madhya Pradesh in June and August 2025, requesting the removal of the disputed social media posts and clarification on the matter. However, despite multiple attempts to reach out, no action has been taken regarding his complaints.
His main demand is for the Chief Minister’s office to publicly clarify who the official identity of the “Mountain Man” is associated with.
Gupta stated, “We have tried to resolve this dispute through continuous dialogue and communication. We reached out via email and other means, but there was no response. Ultimately, we had to knock on the door of the court for justice.” The next hearing is set for August 11 in Raipur court.
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