The Delhi High Court has passed an interim order in favour of Heritage Foods Limited, a Hyderabad-based dairy company, in a defamation suit filed against a media house, a television channel, and various digital platforms.
The suit concerns reports that allegedly linked Heritage Foods to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee/laddus adulteration controversy.
What Heritage Foods Alleged
Heritage Foods contended that a series of newspaper articles, television programmes, and online publications wrongly associated it with the supply of adulterated ghee used in the preparation of laddus offered as prasadam at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple.
According to the plaintiffs, the impugned reports attempted to create a misleading link between Heritage Foods and another entity accused in the alleged TTD ghee scam. They claimed this was done by exploiting a similarity in names. Heritage Foods maintained that it has no business relationship with that entity.
Submissions On Official Records
The plaintiffs further submitted that the publications issued on February 14 were made with “reckless disregard for the truth”.
They argued that official investigation records and public documents showed that neither Heritage Foods nor its business associates were named in the FIRs or charge sheets relating to the TTD ghee matter.
Court’s Prima Facie View
After considering the pleadings, Justice Mini Pushkarna held that the plaintiffs had made out a prima facie case.
The Court also held that the balance of convenience favoured the grant of interim protection.
Interim Directions
The Court restrained the defendants from publishing the impugned content.
It also directed them to take down the impugned article and reports. The direction covers any further publication containing identical or similar statements.
Appearance
For the Plaintiffs: Mr. Sandeep Sethi and Mr. Anurag Ahluwalia, Senior Advocates, with Mr. Sanjay Abbot, Mr. Arshdeep Singh, Mr. Nitesh Gupta, Mr. Ayush Agarwal, Ms. Sanjana Mishra, Mr. Krisna Gambhir, Ms. Shreya Sethi, and Ms. Riya Kumar, Advocates.
For D-6: Ms. Amee Rana, Mr. Yash Karunakaran, Mr. Tanuj Sharma, Ms. Tanvi Raina, and Mr. Debditya Saha, Advocates.
Case Details
Case Title: Heritage Foods Limited v. Jagati Publications Limited & Ors.
