In the defamation case filed by Mr. Shashi Tharoor, against Mr. Arnab’s Republic Channel, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Respondents for making a mockery out of the Court proceedings.

The Hon’ble Court, while upholding Mr. Tharoor’s right to silence on the issue, stated that “If Republic Tv wants to investigate the case, they can’t be stopped by the Court, however, they do not have the authority to call the Plaintiff by any names.

While the Court did not issue any interim orders to restraining the Defendants, from publishing defamatory statements against Mr. Tharoor, as the actual hearing is to be held on August 16, it passed the order that the  Channel should respect the Plaintiff’s right to remain silent on the issue.

Mr. Tharoor, in his application, had submitted that, “Numerous shows, debates, interviews etc are being broadcasted repeatedly on the news channel of the defendants, wherein innuendos are being used to portray that the plaintiff was complicit in the unfortunate death of the deceased. There have also been instances when the plaintiff has been categorically called to be the killer of the deceased.”

He had further submitted that, even after the assurance given by the Court in the previous hearings, the counsel representing the Defendant were continuously involved in maligning him.

While on the other hand, the Counsel representing Mr. Goswami, reportedly alleged that they have only placed the actual evidence and the police report while broadcasting the news. “We have not called him a murderer in any of the news broadcasts on the channel,” he had stated.

The hearing for the defamation suit, where Mr.  Tharoor has claimed for Rs. 2 Crore worth of damages is to be held on August 16, 2017.