Supreme Court Refers IAS Rohini Sindhuri–IPS Roopa Moudgil Defamation Case To Mediation, Stays Proceedings

The Bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Sanjeev Sachdeva appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph as mediator and stayed all ongoing proceedings between the parties while efforts are made to reach an amicable resolution.

During the hearing, the Court expressed concern over the continuing public and legal battle between the two officers, which has persisted for more than two years. “Both are excellent officers. They are ruining each other’s career,” Justice Sharma remarked.

The Court noted that the dispute appeared suitable for resolution through mediation rather than prolonged litigation and passed the following order: “In the present case, this court is of the opinion that the matter can be resolved by way of mediation. Justice Kurian Joseph, retired Supreme Court judge is appointed as the mediator. The parties shall appear before Justice Kurian Joseph. By way of interim relief, further proceedings in respect of both the cases between the parties shall remain stayed.”

The matter reached the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Sindhuri challenging a Karnataka High Court judgment that refused to quash criminal defamation proceedings initiated against her by Moudgil.

The High Court had upheld a trial court order taking cognisance of Moudgil’s complaint, finding that the Magistrate had duly applied its mind before issuing process. It also rejected Sindhuri’s contention that her statements were protected by the defence of good faith, holding that such issues required evidence and could only be determined during trial. The High Court observed that a similar argument had earlier been raised by Moudgil in separate proceedings initiated by Sindhuri and had likewise been held to be a matter for trial. Consequently, it ruled that the same principle must apply equally to both parties.

The dispute traces its origins to February 2023, when Moudgil allegedly published a series of Facebook posts making allegations against Sindhuri. Among other claims, Moudgil questioned Sindhuri’s conduct and alleged irregularities relating to a residential property. Separate reports also indicated allegations concerning the sharing of private photographs with fellow IAS officers.

The public exchange between the two officers quickly escalated into a highly publicised controversy, prompting the Karnataka government to transfer both officers.

Sindhuri subsequently initiated both civil and criminal defamation proceedings against Moudgil. A Bengaluru court took cognisance of Sindhuri’s criminal complaint, while a civil court granted interim protection restraining the publication of allegedly defamatory content.

Moudgil challenged the criminal proceedings before the Karnataka High Court, but her plea was dismissed. She later approached the Supreme Court.

While hearing that challenge in 2023 and 2024, the Supreme Court repeatedly encouraged the officers to resolve their differences amicably. A Bench led by Justice Abhay S. Oka had expressed concern over the impact such public disputes between senior officers could have on governance and administrative functioning.

The Court had earlier directed Moudgil to delete the allegedly defamatory social media posts and advised both officers to refrain from making public statements. The posts were subsequently removed, and those proceedings were eventually withdrawn after mediation attempts failed.

Following the withdrawal, Moudgil filed a fresh criminal complaint in December 2024 alleging that Sindhuri had made defamatory statements against her, including remarks questioning her mental health. The Magistrate thereafter issued notice to Sindhuri, considered her response, and proceeded to take cognisance.

Sindhuri challenged the proceedings before the Karnataka High Court, which granted multiple opportunities for settlement. However, no resolution could be reached, leading to the dismissal of her petition and the filing of the present appeal before the Supreme Court.

With the appointment of Justice Kurian Joseph as mediator, the Supreme Court has once again sought to bring an end to one of the most closely watched disputes between two serving All India Service officers. All proceedings arising out of the rival defamation complaints will remain stayed pending the mediation process.