[Algo Legal Defamation Case] Bengaluru court seeks responses from Twitter, Sequoia and media houses

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A Bengaluru Court on Wednesday sought responses from Twitter, Sequoia Capital, and other media houses over Algo Legal's plaint seeking an interim injunction against publishing of reports which were allegedly libelous, defamatory, and harmful to Algo Legal.

The Principal City Civil Judge MH Annayyaanavar of the Bengaluru Court issued notices and directed Twitter, Sequoia Capital, E-eighteen.com Limited, HT Media Limited, and Nikhil Patwardhan to file their response over the plaint.

Court was hearing a plaint filed by Algo Legal alleging that several news reports based on purported communication from Sequoia to its portfolio companies, were harming its interest, as these reports also included some other matters relating to Sequoia and these companies.

Senior Advocate Uday Holla appearing for Algo Legal and Founder Sandeep Kapoor had submitted that all the defamatory content was based on statements made about a purportedly ongoing investigation.

However, during the investigation Sequoia Capital has not been able to come to a definitive finding of wrongdoing on the part of Algo Legal or Kapoor for six months, Holla added.

Holla further submitted that the insinuations of there being “concerning details” with regards to Algo Legal completely lacked any particulars and were baseless.

Whereas Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya appearing for the Sequoia Capital and Twitter, objected to the grant of the prayer for an ex-parte injunction. Poovayya further submitted that during an ongoing investigation, Sequoia has a right to be heard before any relief is granted, and thereafter sought permission to file objections.

The bench also issued notice to Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd., Journalists Digbijay Mishra, Samidha Sharma, and Ashok Kumar/ John Doe in the matter. Court has directed the parties to file their objections by June 18, 2022.