BREAKING| Delhi High Court Directs Congress Leaders To Remove Social Media Posts Against Smriti Irani & Daughter

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued summons to Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D'Souza in civil defamation suit seeking damages of Rs. 2 crores filed by Union Minister Smriti Irani regarding some allegations made by them against her and her daughter.

Justice Mini Pushkarna was of the view that Irani had made out prima facie case and balance of convenience was in her favour and against the defendant leaders.

"I deem it proper to pass ad interim injunction directing defendants to delete and remove the allegations made during the press conference from all social media platforms/YouTube/Facebook/Instagram and Twitter," the Court ordered.

It added "They are also directed to remove the post, videos, tweets, retweets, morphed pictures of plaintiff and her daughter along with the allegations and stop their recirculation. If defendants fail to comply with the directions within 24 hours of this order, defendants 4-6 social media platforms are directed to take down the material."

The subject matter of the suit pertains to various allegations made by Congress leaders in a press conference and other series of allegations against Irani and her daughter regarding a statutory license in respect of food and beverages operations at a restaurant named 5 Souls Cafe and Bar, located in Goa.

Therefore, the suit has been filed seeking mandatory and permanent injunction against the Congress leaders, to take down and delete various false and defamatory allegations against Irani and also from levelling false allegations against her.

The Court was of the prima facie view that slanderous and bogus allegations were made against Irani without verifying actual facts.

The Court also said that grave injury was caused to Irani's reputation view of the tweets and retweets carried out due to the press conference of Congress leaders subjecting Irani to great injury.

Perusing the documents regarding the restaurant in question, the Court said that there was no license ever issued to Irani.

The suit sought an ax-parte interim temporary injunction directing social media platforms, Twitter, Youtube and Meta, to take down or remove the allegations against Irani, video of Press Conference and the content linked to the same.

It also sought directions on social media plato for to take down or remove the videos, posts, tweets and re-tweets alongwith morphed pictures of Irani and her daughter.

Senior Advocates Neeraj Kishan Kaul, Rajiv Nayyar and Pinky Anand appeared for Smriti Irani, along with a team of DSK Legal (Partners Kirat Singh Nagra, Kartik Yadav and Pranav Vyas, Principal Associate, Manhar Saini & Associates Sumedha Chadha and Hardik Jain)

Title: Smriti Irani v. Pawan Khera & Ors.