Remove tweets on Smriti Irani, daughter, Delhi High Court directs Jairam Ramesh, 2 others

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 29

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D’Souza to remove “defamatory” tweets, re-tweets, posts, videos and photos from social media in relation to the allegations made against Union Minister Smriti Irani and her daughter.

Justice Mini Pushkarna also issued summons to the three Congress leaders on a civil defamation suit filed by Irani seeking damages of over Rs 2 crore for allegedly making baseless allegations against her and her daughter Zoish Irani.

In case the defendant Congress leaders failed to comply with its directions in 24 hours, social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and YouTube shall take down the material, the high court ordered.

“I am of the prima facie view that slanderous allegations were made against the plaintiff (Irani) without verifying actual facts. Grave injury has been caused to the reputation of the plaintiff in view of the tweets and retweets carried out due to the press conference of the defendants. Plaintiff has made out a prima facie case and balance of convenience lies in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants (Ramesh and others),” Justice Pushkarna said.

Irani, who represents the Amethi constituency in the Lok Sabha, is holding the portfolios of the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Minority Affairs in the Union Cabinet. She filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court after the Congress leaders alleged that her 18-year-old daughter Zoish ran an illegal bar in Goa. They had also targeted the minister over the allegations and had demanded her sacking from the Union Cabinet.

The Congress said it would contest Irani’s defamation suit over alleged illegalities in the operations of a Goa bar run by the minister’s daughter — a charge she has termed malicious and motivated.

Also Issues summons

Justice Mini Pushkarna issued summons to the three Congress leaders on a defamation suit filed by Irani seeking damages of Rs 2 crore for allegedly making baseless allegations against her and her daughter.

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