The Delhi High Court has awarded ₹5,00,000 as general compensatory damages to T.V. Today Network Limited, part of the India Today Group, in its defamation suit against Anurag Srivastava. The broadcaster had sought damages of over ₹2 crore after Srivastava made a series of derogatory and unsubstantiated posts on Twitter targeting senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and, by extension, the company’s news channels India Today and Aaj Tak.
The defamatory tweets, posted in 2020, included obscene remarks, false allegations of bribery in connection with the Rhea Chakraborty interview, and comparisons equating Rajdeep Sardesai with controversial figures. Although the defendant later deleted the tweets and undertook not to publish further defamatory content, the Court held that his conduct was “highly defamatory” and “irresponsible.”
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed that while quantifying loss of reputation in monetary terms is inherently difficult, the tweets had caused reputational harm, emotional hardship, and loss of professional credibility. Referring to precedents, including Abhijit Mishra v. Wipro Ltd. 2025 SCC OnLine Del 4976, the Court ruled that general damages were warranted.
The suit was thus disposed of with an award of ₹5 lakh in favour of T.V. Today Network. Both parties were directed to bear their own costs.
Appearances:
Plaintiff: Mr. Hrishikesh Baruah, Mr. Utkarsh Dwivedi, Mr. Kumar Kishitij and Mr. Anurag Mishra, Advs.
Defendant: None
