Thread by @QuilledWords

NSA Ajit Doval’s son Vivek Doval had filed a defamation complaint against @thecaravanindia, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and others. We are here at the Patiala House Court where the pre-summoning arguments will be heard. @newslaundry

Thread:

The complaint was filed against the magazine for allegedly publishing a defamatory article titled: The D-Companies. The story alleged that NSA Doval’s sons “run a web of companies including a Cayman Islands hedge fund”. @newslaundry

After the publication of the story, the Congress party had held a presser where Jairam Ramesh had asked RBI to “make public details of FDI inflows from Cayman islands since demonetisation”. @newslaundry

ACMM Samar Vishal has arrived. Hearing to begin soon.

For more details, read:
newslaundry.com/shorts/witness…

Doval’s lawyer, DP Singh, reading from the criminal manual.

“There are two other witnesses who have also endorsed the harm caused to the intellectual character of the complainant,” says DP Singh, Vivek Doval’s lawyer. Singh is making a case for Section 499.

“The paper comes out with damaging imputations without really checking the imputation of the jargon, wrong facts used together, that totally demolished the reputation of the petitioner and his family,” Singh says.

“We have also shown in the evidence as to how many viewing of the press conference has happened, how many likes and dislikes are there,” he adds. “Whatever has been said and written will echo for life. When we are in public life every act of us is watched.”

Singh says that his client’s clarification will not be able to undo what has been the impact of the written word. He also makes a case for early conclusion of the case as the longer it goes, the allegedly defamatory article will be shared even more.

Singh reads a Supreme Court judgement about the balance between defamation law, media’s freedom and right to free speech and expression.

“This (the article) is simply an exercise to defame but also to target a person who has no link to the company...” Singh also argues that the presser was full of innuendoes. “They went to upload the presser for the entire world, for those who were not present...

...for those who can’t read, they also uploaded the transcript.” This is to say they were ensuring to reach the largest possible audience, he said.

Referring to the Caravan’s article, Singh says, “Why should Vivek Doval be named and his picture be used so prominently... this just goes on to show the mentality with which the article was written.”

Making a case for factual inaccuracies in the article, Singh argues that the process of establishing the company had started in 2013..., not 13 days after demonetisation as the article says.

In relation to connection with the House of Saud mentioned the article, Vivek Doval’s lawyer says that PM Modi went to receive MBS, the courty is looking for investments from Saudi Arabia. “Should this (the connection) be mentioned in such a depreciation way?”

As Doval’s representatives are shuffling papers, Vivek Doval walks up to help. He wants to make a point. Until now he was occupying one of the chairs in the last row. For now, Singh is continuing with his arguments.

“There is no innuendo, this is a direct insinuation,” Singh says referring to Jairam Ramesh’s usage of “D-Company” in his presser on Caravan’s story. @newslaundry

“Every line is defamatory. But I am going to restrict myself to three points,” Singh says. @newslaundry

“I work in an industry which is very sensitive to such allegations. I’ve lost reputation, investments etc. There has been irreparable damage to my reputation and public image,” Singh concludes as he seeks punishment for the accused. @newslaundry

ACMM Samar Vishal reserves order for March 2. Vivek Doval walks out with his representatives.