Delhi Court Issues Summons to Arun Purie, India Today in Defamation Case Initiated by Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi 27, July 2024
In a Significant Legal development, the Delhi court has summoned Arun Puri, Chairman of India Today, along with Vice Chairman Kalli Puri and other senior members of the news network in a criminal defamation case filed by prominent lawyer Pradeep Rai.
The case revolves around allegations that India Today published defamatory stories linking Rai to conman Sanjay Sherpuriya. The summons was issued by Judicial Magistrate Tarunpreet Kaur of Patiala House Courts on July 26, after the court found a prima facie case that suggested Rai was unjustly defamed through these reports.
Pradeep Rai in his defamation suit claims that “I was astonished to find a defamatory article about me and attempted to reach the responsible parties to clarify that they had mistaken my identity. Despite my efforts, they did not correct their actions, leading me to issue a legal notice on June 27, 2023. This notice, sent both physically and electronically, highlighted that the publication harmed not only me but also my family. The accused responded to the notice, yet failed to verify the facts with the relevant agencies, despite their expertise in electronic media.
The articles and tweets from India Today and its subsidiaries, including Aaj Tak and News Tak, falsely linked me to Sanjay Rai Sherpuria, a person involved in criminal cases. The false claims included that I was summoned for interrogation by the STF and connected to Sherpuria’s companies. Screenshots of the defamatory content are marked as evidence.”
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
The court has instructed that summons be served to Arun Purie, Kalli Purie, and other senior officials including Managing Editor Top Channels Khandekar and Managing Editor India Today. The accused are required to respond to the summons by filing the necessary documentation within 15 days. The charges against them fall under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to criminal defamation.
The defamation claim by Rai stems from two specific stories published on the Aaj Tak news channel’s website. These reports allegedly implied that Rai was summoned for questioning by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) concerning the Sanjay Shivpuri case.
In a parallel legal move, Rai has also filed a criminal defamation suit against ABP News, and the court has similarly summoned that channel and its officials. Sanjay Shivpuri, a businessman from Lucknow, faces accusations of defrauding individuals by falsely claiming connections with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and various bureaucrats.
The court’s order reads” at the present stage of summoning, the court is only required to see as to if prima facie case is made out against accused persons., in view of the above discussion, Pre- summoning evidence led by the complainant, documents brought on record and the submissions made complaint stands allowed and the undersigned takes cognizance of offence under section 500 IPC let summons be issued to accused 1. Arun Purie chairman India Today Group 2. Kallai Puri vice chairman India Today Group 3.Supriyo Prasad managing editor Tak channels4. Milind Khandekar managing editor and5. India Today on filing of PF within 15 days from today for offences under section 500 IPC for the NDOH”
