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Synopsis

In the defamation suit filed by Union Minister Smriti Irani, the Delhi High Court today issued summons to Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D’Souza, while asking them to remove their social media posts against Irani and her daughter Zoish Irani.

The Congress leaders have accused Irani's daughter of running a restaurant bar in Goa “illegally”, with the licence procured “fraudulently” in the name of a deceased person and have also demanded Irani's resignation.

A single judge bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna has issued summons today in the suit filed by Irani wherein she has submitted that the Congress leaders have conspired with each other to launch a tirade of false, scathing and belligerent personal attacks against her and her daughter with the common motive to malign, defame and injure her and her daughter’s reputation, moral character and public image. 

“Despite being fully aware of the fact that the applicant and her daughter are neither owner(s) of the premises or said restaurant, nor have they applied for any license in relation to the said restaurant, defendants [Congress leaders] deliberately made various defamatory statements imputing the character of the applicant and her daughter going to the extent of maliciously peddling lies by stating that the applicants’s daughter is purportedly indulging in corrupt practices and illegal activities under the patronage and knowledge of the applicant,” the suit reads.

Justice Mini Pushkarna today said that a prima facie case has been made out by Irani and the balance of convenience lies in favour of her.

Accordingly, the High Court passed an ad interim injunction directing the congress leaders to delete and remove the allegations from all social media platforms – Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

In response to the summons issued by the High Court, Jairam Ramesh has tweeted,

“The Delhi High Court has issued notice asking us to formally reply to the case filed by Smriti Irani. We look forward to presenting the facts before the court. We will challenge and disprove the spin being put out by Ms. Irani.”

[Inputs from Indian Express]