New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): Entrepreneur and investor Ankiti Bose has secured interim relief from Delhi’s Dwarka Court in a defamation suit, with the court granting an ex parte ad interim injunction and directing the removal of the impugned article.
By its order, Additional District Judge Harjyot Singh Bhalla of the Dwarka Courts restrained the defendants from publishing, circulating, reposting or disseminating the impugned article or any substantially similar content during the pendency of the proceedings.
Upon examining the material placed before it, the court observed that Bose is not an accused in the criminal proceedings referred to in the article. Instead, she is the complainant in an FIR registered in Mumbai against her former colleague and Zilingo co-founder.
The court reiterated the settled legal principle that the media must exercise caution while reporting on matters that are under investigation or yet to be adjudicated and cannot assume the role of a court by attributing criminal liability in the absence of any judicial determination.
The court further observed that irresponsible reporting can seriously affect an individual’s reputation and may interfere with the administration of justice. It reaffirmed that the right to reputation forms an integral part of the right to life and dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
While granting interim protection, the court held that Bose had established a prima facie case in her favour, that the balance of convenience lay with her, and that continued circulation of the impugned material could cause irreparable harm which monetary compensation may not adequately remedy.
Accordingly, the court directed the removal of the impugned article and restrained the defendants from publishing any further content accusing Bose of criminal conduct, fraud, misappropriation, money laundering or similar allegations without any judicial finding.
The order further provides that, in the event of non-compliance, Bose is at liberty to approach intermediaries and online platforms directly for de-indexing and removal of the content.
The court also took note of earlier litigation involving Bose and observed that another publication carrying adverse imputations against her had previously been stayed by the Bombay High Court.
The order expressly restrains the publication, circulation, reposting or dissemination of the impugned article and any substantially similar content during the pendency of the suit.
Any publication or dissemination of the restrained material, or any content that is defamatory and contrary to the directions contained in the order, would constitute a violation of the subsisting interim injunction. (ANI)
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