The Delhi High Court has issued an interim order directing news portal The Wire to take down an article that allegedly defamed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in connection to the Bamnoli land acquisition case. Justice Sachin Datta granted an ad-interim injunction in favor of the chief secretary, instructing the news portal and its concerned reporter to remove the article and the associated tweets.
While announcing the order, Justice Sachin Datta mandated the removal of the contentious article and tweets, pending the detailed order awaited from the court.
Earlier, the high court had reserved its decision on the chief secretary’s plea for interim relief in the defamation suit related to a news piece published on November 9. The article had purportedly implicated the chief secretary’s son in association with the beneficiary’s family regarding a 19-acre land acquisition by the National Highways Authority of India for constructing the Dwarka Expressway in 2018.
In response, Naresh Kumar sought the removal of the article and a restraining order against The Wire and its reporter from publishing further defamatory content. His counsel claimed the article was pre-planned to instigate public sentiment against him and cater to vested interests.
The news portal’s legal representation argued that the article, raising certain queries, was not aimed at defaming Naresh Kumar.
The chief secretary had previously issued a legal notice to The Wire and the reporter on November 13, contesting the misleading and defamatory nature of the article.
Additionally, reports highlighted an escalation in the land price from ₹41.52 crore to ₹353.79 crore in May. Allegedly, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs initiated action against South West Delhi District Magistrate Hemant Kumar for approving the enhanced compensation.
Sources By Agencies