The Delhi High Court has restrained Kalvakuntla Kavitha, a politician and Daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, from publishing or repeating allegedly defamatory claims that The Pioneer newspaper was purchased by a political personality for ₹188 crore and was being controlled by a political party.
Justice Sachin Datta passed the ad-interim order in a defamation suit filed by CMYK Printech Limited, owner and publisher of The Pioneer, against Kavitha and several others.
The Court noted that the statements complained of were first published during a YouTube livestream on July 9, 2026, in which it was allegedly claimed that the newspaper had been purchased by a political personality for ₹188 crore and was being controlled by a political party.
CMYK Printech contended before the Court that the allegations were “per se false and defamatory”, maintaining that neither any political person nor any political party had acquired, controlled or had any say in the newspaper.
The company further alleged that Kavitha’s statements were subsequently reproduced, republished, circulated and amplified by the other defendants across electronic and digital media platforms, causing continuing harm to its goodwill, reputation and business operations.
It argued that the injury was particularly serious because the impugned content remained globally accessible through digital and social media platforms. The plaintiff company invoked the Delhi High Court’s jurisdiction on the ground that its registered and corporate offices are situated in Delhi and the allegedly defamatory statements had been extensively circulated and caused substantial injury in the city.
Considering the circumstances, Justice Datta passed an ad-interim injunction restraining Kavitha, arrayed as defendant no.1, from publishing, republishing, broadcasting, circulating or disseminating, directly or indirectly, the allegedly defamatory statements complained of in the suit “or any other content containing the same or similar allegations” against CMYK Printech or The Pioneer on any platform.
The Court also restrained defendant nos. 2 to 15 from making similar allegedly defamatory imputations against the company until the next hearing. The Court also directed the concerned defendants to take down the offending publications and posts from their websites, platforms and social media.
Summons were also issued in the suit, and the defendants were directed to file their written statements within 30 days of receiving summons. Notice was separately issued on the interim injunction application, and replies were directed to be filed within four weeks.
The matter will next be listed before the Court on February 4, 2027.
