A Delhi court on Monday ordered the summoning of Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera, and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal complaint filed by senior journalist and India TV Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, Rajat Sharma, alleging defamation, forgery, and creation of false electronic records.
The order was passed by Ms. Devanshi Janmeja, (JMFC-04), South-East District, Saket Courts. The court found prima facie grounds to proceed against the accused under Sections 465, 469, 471, 499, and 500 of the Indian Penal Code.
Background of the Case
The complaint relates to false allegations by the congress leader in June 24, against Rajat Sharma 2024, wherein he was accused on social media and in press interactions of having used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. Rajat Sharma contended that the allegations were false and were supported by a tampered video with superimposed captions that were not part of the original broadcast.
According to the complaint, the allegedly manipulated video was circulated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by Ragini Nayak and subsequently amplified through retweets and public statements by Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh. The Rajat Sharma stated that this led to reputational damage, and personal distress.
Court’s Observations
The court noted that:
• Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports indicated visible post-production alterations, including added titles and captions, in the videos uploaded by the accused.
• Witnesses present during the live broadcast testified that no abusive or objectionable language was used by the complainant.
• The Delhi High Court, in a related civil suit, had earlier found a prima facie absence of abusive language and directed removal of the impugned social media posts.
