TV Today Awarded ₹5 Lakh by Delhi HC Over Defamatory Posts Targeting Rajdeep Sardesai

The Delhi High Court has awarded Rs 5 lakh in compensation to TV Today Network Limited after Twitter user Anurag Srivastava posted a series of defamatory tweets targeting the media house and its journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. The remarks followed Sardesai’s interview with actress Rhea Chakraborty in August 2020.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, delivering the judgment on September 3, 2025, said the tweets were highly defamatory, unsubstantiated and irresponsible, adding that such conduct has to be deprecated.

TV Today Network Limited had approached the High Court seeking a permanent injunction against Srivastava, along with mandatory directions and damages of over Rs 2 crore. The company alleged that Srivastava’s tweets had harmed its reputation.

The dispute arose from a televised interview aired on August 27, 2020, under the segment Super Explosive, where Sardesai interviewed with Rhea Chakraborty. The following day, Srivastava tweeted from his handle @theanuragkts: “When Rajdeep Sardesai was born, nurse said … Badhai ho… Apko dalla hua…”

TV Today argued that the Hindi colloquial “dalla” (pimp) was abusive, false, and defamatory, directly targeting Sardesai and, by association, diminishing the credibility of the news network.

Further inquiries showed that Srivastava, from another handle @theanuragoffice, had earlier uploaded a video accusing Sardesai of spreading fake news. On August 26, 2020, he compared the journalist to Zakir Naik, posting,“There is no difference between Rajdeep Sardesai and Zakir Naik #ShameOnAajTak.”

Days later, on September 6, 2020, Srivastava tweeted,“Rhea Chakraborty allegedly gave Rs. 8 crores to Rajdeep Sirdesai and India Today for her interview. RIP 4th Pillar of Democracy.”

TV Today maintained that these statements were not only insulting but were also aimed at discrediting its anchor and channels before the public. The network presented evidence of financial impact, stating that revenue declined from Rs 899.57 crore in FY 2019–20 to Rs 819.92 crore in FY 2020–21, a loss of about Rs 79 crore. The counsel for the network thus argued that that real and actual damages have indeed occurred, as evidenced by the reduction in income generated by the plaintiff company for the financial year 2020-21.

The network’s counsel, Hrishikesh Baruah, however, contended that the plaintiff for the case of defamation and seeking general damages may not be required to actually prove the actual damages.

Taking note of the contentions, the Court said, “Having considered the overall facts and circumstances, the Court finds that the objectionable tweets were highly defamatory and remain unsubstantiated by the defendant, despite having been afforded sufficient opportunity to do so.”

The judge further remarked that while there was no fixed formula for quantifying reputational harm, courts were empowered to award general damages in such cases.

“Having considered the overall circumstances, this Court deems it just and proper to award Rs. 5,00,000/- as general compensatory damages to the plaintiff, to redress the reputational harm, emotional hardship, and loss of professional credibility caused by the conduct of the defendant,” the Court ordered.

Accordingly, the present petition was disposed of.

Case Title: T.V. Today Network Limited vs. Anurag Srivastava & Ors.

Bench:  Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav

Date of Decision: 3rd September 2025