Delhi HC Denies Interim Relief to Anil Ambani in Defamation Suit Against NDTV Over Reliance Group Probes

The Delhi High Court has refused to grant interim relief to Anil Ambani in his defamation suit against NDTV and other media entities, seeking a blanket restraint on publication and removal of news reports related to ongoing investigations involving Reliance group companies. Justice Subramonium Prasad’s single-judge bench sought responses from NDTV and other defendants on Ambani’s plea, listing the matter for further hearing in July.
Ambani’s counsel argued that NDTV’s continuous reporting directly attributed developments in the investigations to him personally, despite him holding no executive role in the Reliance group companies. This, it was argued, created a misleading association and warranted immediate injunctive protection. However, NDTV’s senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao countered that the suit raised serious concerns about prior restraint on media reporting and the Constitutional protection of free speech under Article 19(1)(a).
Rao emphasized that the impugned publications were based on official and publicly available records, including releases from investigating agencies. Justice Prasad noted that orders restraining publication are not typically passed at the first hearing, especially when free speech and media reporting are involved.
The investigations in question pertain to alleged financial irregularities and loan “fraud” involving Reliance Communications (RCom) and its group entities. The Supreme Court had earlier directed Central agencies, including the ED and CBI, to collaborate on the probe.
NDTV, represented by Rao and a team of lawyers from Karanjawala and Co., along with other defendants including AMG Media Networks Limited and IANS, will respond to Ambani’s plea. IANS maintains its reports were based on official press releases and published in good faith without bias.