Overview
- The Bombay High Court, which heard the case on Thursday, declined a gag order and told the channel to stick to facts from court and regulator records without pejorative add-ons.
- Justice Arif Doctor asked Anil Ambani’s lawyers to share the specific clips and lines they say are defamatory so the defendants can review them, with the matter listed next for April 29.
- Ambani’s suit says Republic TV wrongly tied him personally to alleged wrongdoing at group companies and used terms like fraudster that he argues have damaged his reputation.
- Republic TV’s counsel said the broadcasts were truthful and fair comment based on orders by the Securities and Exchange Board of India and Enforcement Directorate, and Arnab Goswami called the suit a SLAPP in a recent affidavit.
- An earlier bench on April 1 had already urged the channel to keep rhetoric down, underscoring the court’s line between factual reporting and commentary that tries to rouse interest.