[BREAKING] Sandeep Kapoor, Algo Legal file defamation suit against media outlets, Sequoia Capital and Twitter

Following reports on the decision of venture capital fund Sequoia Capital to cut ties with Algo Legal, the firm and its founder Sandeep Kapoor have filed a defamation suit before a Bengaluru court against the company as well as several media outlets..The matter is listed before City Civil and Sessions Judge MH Annayyaanavar on June 7 for orders.Senior Advocate Uday Holla argued for Sandeep Kapoor and Algo Legal who were briefed by Anupama Hebbar of Keystone Partners..The parties impleaded in the suit included HT Media Limited (owner of Hindustan Times and other publications) Bennett Coleman (owner of Times of India, Economic Times and others), the owners of News18, journalists from these publications, and Twitter..Sandeep Kapoor and Algo Legal have filed a case against the following media companies and journalists..Algo Legal is a law firm founded by Sequoia Capital's former general counsel Sandeep Kapoor, who as per his LinkedIn profile, worked at Sequoia for almost nine years till 2019.As per an email, Sequoia informed companies that “concerning incidents” involving the law firm Algo Legal were found in a recent investigation..Kapoor allegedly threatened some of the Sequoia portfolio companies with cases for violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and investigations by the Income Tax Department, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other government agencies.It was further alleged that Kapoor, while taking advantage of his earlier position as Director Legal of Sequoia, was arm-twisting these portfolio companies to make them hire his firm (Algo Legal) or related entities for all legal work..In response to these allegations, Kapoor had replied,"Algo Legal is a law-abiding entity and has never conducted itself in contravention of any law(s). We refrain from being dragged into a trial by media and reserve our right to seek legal remedies as may be available to us to defend our reputation and seek justice.".[Exclusive] Threats of ED raids, arm-twisting and more: Why Sequoia Capital cut ties with Sandeep Kapoor's Algo Legal