Defamation case: Court orders Congress leaders to delete tweets defaming Smriti Irani's daughter

If the Congress leaders fail to do so, Twitter will have to delete the posts, the court added.

The judge said "grave injury had been caused to the reputation of the plaintiff" with the tweets. "I am of the prima facie view that slanderous allegations were made against the plaintiff without verifying actual facts," said Justice Mini Pushkarna, reported media.

On July 23 (Saturday), Congress leaders held a press conference where they shared a copy of the show-cause notice served to an illegal bar in Goa allegedly operated by the minister's daughter.

Last week, Irani filed a defamation a Rs 2 crore defamation case against Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D'souza. She had sought a written unconditional apology and the withdrawal of allegations against her daughter immediately.  

She held a press conference and slammed Congress for "publically mutilating" her daughter's character.

"My daughter is a student, she does not run a bar," Irani said.

"I want to ask that Congressperson... Where is my daughter's name in the papers that they flashed?"

"An 18-year-old child, a college student, her character today was assassinated by Congressmen at Congress headquarters. Her fault is that her mother fought against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. This 18-year-old girl's character has been assassinated by Congress. Her fault is that her mother does press conferences against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi," said Irani.

"The girl who was attacked today is not in politics. She is a college student. But a Congress spokesperson flashed papers and alleged she runs an illegal bar," she fumed.

"I want to tell Pawan Khera, my 18-year-old daughter studies in college. She does not run a bar. Pawan Khera said my daughter was given show cause notice, I want to ask where is her name on the papers? Jairam Ramesh said it is based on an RTI. They are blaming my daughter on the basis of an RTI, is her name there?" she asked.

"Congress spokespersons laughed and said I hold press conferences against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi... I will keep doing press conferences. I will now seek answers in court... In the court of law and court of people," she said.

Today, Jairam Ramesh confirmed the summons in a tweet. "The 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 Ms. Irani," the Congress MP tweeted.

In a swipe at the Congress, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said, "One must verify all the facts before leveling defamatory charges against persons holding high positions or any citizen."

Irani also challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to fight the Lok Sabha elections in Amethi in 2024, and said he would once again "bite the dust".

"The Gandhi family, on whose direction this press conference was done, I am challenging their chief to send Rahul Gandhi to Amethi again in 2024 to fight against me... We will again make Rahul Gandhi bite dust in Amethi," she said.

Congress on Saturday alleged that a bar purportedly run by Irani's daughter in Goa obtained a bar license illegally.

Congress' General Secretary Communication Jairam Ramesh quoted an RTI reply obtained by Goa-based lawyer Aires Rodrigues.

As per reports, the RTI reply showed that an excise licence was illegally issued to a bar and restaurant at Assagao in Goa, purportedly linked to Irani’s family, in the name of one Anthony D’Gama in 2021.

In June 2022 the licence was renewed in Gama’s name after he passed, as per reports.

An Excise Commissioner issued a show-cause notice to the restaurant on July 21 after receiving a complaint from Rodrigues.