Rajat Sharma files defamation suit in Delhi High Court against Congress leaders

The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order in a plea by journalist Rajat Sharma against Congress party leaders seeking to restrain them from making allegations that Sharma used foul language on live television. .Justice Neena Bansal Krishna reserved the order in the plea by Sharma seeking interim relief.Sharma has sought damages of ₹100 crore for defamation. The plea has been filed against Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Jairam Ramesh, and Pawan Khera after they alleged that Sharma used foul language and abused Nayak on live TV..Senior Advocate Maninder Singh appeared for Sharma and argued that the TV discussion was held on June 4 but the Congress leaders started tweeting about it on June 10 by adding the expletives which were never used.“I do not belong to any political party. I am doing my professional duty. These allegations are patently false and cooked up by them. This is a classic and fit case where it needs to be removed immediately. Till the time it is on social media, the allegations will be repeated I will continue to get abused,” Singh argued..Several social media handles had posted a video clip of a discussion on India TV (the news channel owned by Sharma) on the day of the Lok Sabha election results claiming that Sharma used foul language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak. On June 10, Nayak posted the video on X and said that in the video, Sharma can be heard using foul language against her. She then filed a police complaint against Sharma as well. Later, on June 11, Sharma said Congress party’s media cell ran a false campaign claiming that he used foul language and this was a conspiracy.He said that India TV gave a warning to Congress’ communication department stating that if they keep on spreading falsehoods, it would amount to defamation.“Congress spokesperson was sent with the intention to provoke me,” Sharma said on June 11 broadcast.He added that despite warning, Congress media cell continued making allegations against him and that is why he has taken legal action..Sharma's counsel then posted a statement on India TV's official X handle and warned Nayak as well as Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera from making defamatory allegations against him. "We have seen your posts on social media where you have accused Mr. Sharma of using abusive language on air. The allegations made by you in your posts are absolutely false and lack any basis and foundation whatsoever. They are malicious and defamatory and clearly constitute fake news. You have blatantly violated all limits of public decency by falsely accusing a personality of high repute. We are taking legal advice on this to take further action," Sharma's counsel said in a statement posted on India TV's X handle..Senior Advocate Maninder Singh briefed by Sudeep Chatterjee, Rohan Swarup, Kunal Vats and Sanyam Suri of Singh & Singh Law Firm appeared for Rajat Sharma.