Delhi High Court seeks Zee Media's response to defamation case by businessman Vikas Garg

The Delhi High Court recently issued a notice to Zee Media in a defamation suit filed by businessman Vikas Garg who is currently under scanner for alleged GST fraud [Vikas Garg v Zee Media Corporation Ltd & Ors].

Zee had published news stories referring to Vikas Garg as Natwarlal (conman).

Justice Amit Bansal considered Garg’s interim relief application on July 25.

While the court did not issue an interim injunction against Zee, it stated that Garg can offer his response to the videos published by Zee and Zee has to air the same on its news channels.

“In the meanwhile, the plaintiff (Garg) is permitted to offer his comments/response in relation to the allegedly defamatory videos aired by the defendant no.1, either himself or through an authorized representative. The aforesaid comments/response shall be duly aired by the defendant no.1 on their news channels,” the Court said. 

The case will be considered next on August 26. 

Zee released videos on July 22 and 23 alleging that Garg had committed fraud worth several crores of rupees against the government.

It cited an order dated January 28 by the Principal Commissioner, GST, where Vikas Garg and his companies were found to have claimed input tax credits of ₹44.3 crores using fake firms and fraudulent invoicing, showing movement of goods when none actually moved.

The report referred to Garg as Natwarlal (a con artist) and alleged that he used his political connections to commit the fraud. 

Garg told the Court that the use of the term Natwarlal is defamatory. 

However, Zee argued that it had acted responsibly and not only relied on the GST order but its journalists went to the addresses of the alleged fake firms and found that those firms do not exist.

Senior Advocates Rajiv Nayar and Sanjay Jain along with advocates Akanksha Kaul, Sankalp Mishra and Ishika Chauhan appeared for Vikas Garg. 

Zee Media was represented by Senior Advocate Parag P Tripathi as well as advocates Raghav Bhatia, Srinivasan Ramaswamy and Aparajita Sen. 

[Read Order]