Delhi High Court Issues Notice To The Caravan Over Nikhil Gadkari’s Plea Against ‘Nagpur’s Beef’ Article
Delhi High Court issues notice on Nikhil Gadkari's plea seeking removal of allegedly defamatory Caravan article
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice on a suit filed by CIAN Agro Industries & Infrastructure Limited and its Managing Director Nikhil Nitin Gadkari, challenging an article published by The Caravan that allegedly linked the company and the Gadkari family to the beef trade.
Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice on the plaintiffs’ application seeking an interim injunction against the publication and dissemination of the article titled “Nagpur’s Beef: The Beef Company Enmeshed in Gadkari’s Business Empire”, published by The Caravan on March 1, 2026.
The defamation suit has been filed by Advocates Tejas Patel and Meera Kaura Patel.
The plaintiffs have alleged that the article contains false, misleading and defamatory statements and creates an incorrect impression that CIAN Agro Industries and its promoters are directly or indirectly associated with the trade, processing or export of beef or bovine meat products.
According to the plaint, CIAN Agro is engaged in the manufacture and trading of agro-based and allied products, including frozen vegetables, spices, sugar and edible oils, and does not deal in beef or other bovine meat products. The plaintiffs have asserted that the company has never held any licence or authorisation for the slaughter, processing, trade or export of beef, buffalo meat or other bovine meat products.
The plaintiffs have particularly challenged the article’s alleged attempt to portray CIAN Agro as being closely connected with Rembal and Mithr International, companies involved in the beef trade. They contend that the article relied on shareholdings, loans and ordinary trade transactions to create an alleged connection between the entities that does not exist.
The suit further alleges that the article and its subsequent social media dissemination have caused reputational harm to the company and Nikhil Gadkari, who is the son of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The plaintiffs have alleged that the publication acquired additional political and communal significance by linking the alleged beef trade to the Gadkari family and references to cow-protection politics and attacks against Muslims.
The plaintiffs have also pointed out that The Caravan itself allegedly acknowledged in the article that there was no official disclosure establishing a relationship between CIAN Agro and Rembal, and that the two entities were kept separate on paper. They have relied on these portions to contend that the publication nevertheless created an insinuation of wrongdoing through speculation and inference.
The plaintiffs had earlier issued a legal notice on March 4, 2026, seeking removal and retraction of the allegedly defamatory material. According to the plaint, The Caravan subsequently replied asserting its right to freedom of speech under Article 19, while also acknowledging that the article did not state that CIAN Agro possessed any licence or regulatory approval relating to the slaughter, processing or export of bovine meat.
The plaintiffs have now sought an interim injunction restraining The Caravan from publishing or disseminating further allegedly defamatory content. They have also sought removal of republications from the publication’s social media handles and takedown of derivative content posted by third parties on the basis of the article.
The suit also seeks permanent and mandatory injunctions against further dissemination, directions for takedown of existing allegedly defamatory material and damages for the alleged reputational injury.
The matter will now be heard on August 31.
Case Title: Cian Agro Industries and Infrastructure Limited and Anr. v. Delhi Press Patra Prakashan Pvt. Limited and Ors.
Bench: Justice Subramonium Prasad
Hearing Date: August 10, 2026