Gautam Gambhir's Defamation Suit Against Punjab Kesari Settled Before Delhi High Court

The defamation suit filed by former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir against Hindi daily newspaper Punjab Kesari and its reporters has been settled before the Delhi High Court.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma disposed of the suit in view of the settlement agreement entered into between both the parties.

“The agreement has duly been signed by the parties. Both the parties state that they have entered into the settlement out of their own free will without any undue influence or without coercion. The settlement agreement has been taken on record. Both the parties are held bound by the terms and conditions of the settlement agreement,” the court said in an order passed on March 13.

The settlement agreement dated March 04 was recorded at the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre.

As per the settlement, Gambhir agreed to withdraw the suit and undertook not to file any case or before any court qua the dispute.

“In view of the settlement, the present suit along with the pending application is disposed of. Decree sheet be drawn accordingly and the court fee be refunded as per the rules,” the court said.

Gambhir filed the suit seeking to restrain the newspaper and its reporters from making any allegedly defamatory publication against him.

In May last year, a coordinate bench had refused to pass any interim injunction order in Gambhir's favour but observed that many of the articles published against him were indicative of a “wilful campaign” launched by Punjab Kesari to lower his reputation in the eyes of his constituents, supporters and the public at large.

“Upon a bare reading of the impugned news articles, this Court is of the prima facie opinion that many of these articles are indicative of willful campaign launched by the defendants to lower the reputation of standing of the plaintiff in the eyes of his constituents, supporters and the public at large. In the opinion of this Court, this does not befit a newspaper of the repute and stature of the defendants to indulge in such a conduct,” the bench had said.

Summons were issued to Punjab Kesari, its editor in chief Aditya Chopra and three reporters. However, no take down order or interim relief was granted by the court.

Gambhir's suit sought an unconditional written apology from the newspaper for publishing certain “malicious and false publications” against him.

In the suit moved through Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, Gambhir also sought damages of Rs. 2 crores from Punjab Kesari.

The defamation suit was filed by Gambhir over certain articles published by the newspaper since 2022. The news reports include “Sansad Gautam Gambhir Lapata Gali-Gali Me Lage Poster”, “Dilli ke lapata Sansad Lucknow Super Giants ke liye bane Bhasmasur” and “Ye Naye Mijaz ke Sansad hai Jara Faaslo se Mila Karo.”

It was Gambhir's case that the newspaper and its reporters have been intentionally publishing false and defamatory articles with a view to damage his reputation. 

The suit submitted that despite a legal notice to the newspaper on November 23, 2022, asking it to cease and desist from making any defamatory publication against Gambhir, no response was received till date.

Counsel for Plaintiff: Mr.Jai Anant Dehadrai, Mr.Siddharth Sharma, Mr.Md.Tasnimul Hassan and Mr.Martin G.George, Advs

Counsel for Defendants: Mr.Dhruv Chawla, Adv

Title: GAUTAM GAMBHIR v. PUNJAB KESARI & ORS.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 330

Click Here To Read Order