Delhi HC provides relief to Smriti Irani, Congress unmoved

Court asks Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D’Souza to take down tweets relating to Silly Souls Restaurant and Bar in Goa

Smriti Irani: File picture

TT Special Correspondent   |   New Delhi   |    30.07.22 : Delhi High Court on Friday directed Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D’Souza to take down tweets and other social media posts regarding allegations against Union minister Smriti Irani’s daughter relating to the Silly Souls Restaurant and Bar in Goa.

The Congress leaders refused to delete the tweets and the social media posts put out on July 23 on the licence issued to the facility, while Irani asserted that her daughter was an 18-year-old student who does not run any bar.

The court said social media platforms should remove the posts if the Congress leaders did not oblige within 24 hours.

The Congress is itching for a legal battle, and sources said more material about the Goa restaurant and its association with the Irani family would be put out in the public domain over the next few days.

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh tweeted: “Delhi High Court has issued notice asking us to formally reply to the case filed by Smriti Irani. We look forward to presenting the facts before the court. We will challenge and disprove the spin being put out by Irani.”

The court issued summons to Ramesh, Khera and D’Souza, ruling that the unverified allegations had caused much damage to the minister’s reputation.

Irani has in the suit accused the Congress leaders of having conspired to launch a tirade of false, scathing and belligerent personal attacks against her and her daughter with the common motive to malign, defame and injure her and her daughter’s reputation, moral character and public image.

Her suit says: “Despite being fully aware of the fact that the applicant and her daughter are neither owner of the premises or said restaurant, nor have they applied for any licence in relation to the said restaurant, defendants (the Congress leaders) deliberately made various defamatory statements imputing the character of the applicant and her daughter going to the extent of maliciously peddling lies by stating that the applicant’s daughter is purportedly indulging in corrupt practices and illegal activities under the patronage and knowledge of the applicant.”

Justice Mini Pushkarna said: “The applicant has made out prima facie case and balance of convenience lies in favour of plaintiff (Irani) and against the defendants (the Congress leaders). I deem it proper to pass ad interim injunction directing defendants to delete and remove the allegations made during the press conference from all social media platforms – YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“They are also directed to remove the post, videos, tweets, retweets, morphed pictures of plaintiff and her daughter along with the allegations and stop their recirculation. If defendants fail to comply with the directions within 24 hours of this order, social media platforms are directed to take down (the posts).”

The judge added: “I am of the prima facie view that slanderous allegations were made against the plaintiff without verifying actual facts. Grave injury has been caused to the reputation of the plaintiff in view of the tweets and retweets carried due to the press conference of the defendants.”

Congress spokesperson Khera had in the presence of Ramesh and D’Souza alleged that Irani’s daughter had fraudulently acquired a licence for the bar in the name of a dead man. When Irani said her daughter does not run any bar, the Congress produced videos showing a purported conversation between her daughter and a food critic in which she appears to accept that she owns the restaurant.

The Congress also produced a showcause issued by the excise commissioner alleging illegality in the procurement of the licence. Irani said the showcause didn’t name her or her daughter.