The Delhi High Court has directed Newslaundry to take down certain content deemed “disparaging” against the TV Today Network and its channels Aaj Tak and India Today.
A division bench of Justices C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla passed the interim order while hearing cross appeals filed by both parties.
The court ordered removal of remarks in which Newslaundry described TV Today’s content using terms such as “shit”, “shit show”, “high on weed or opium”, and criticised its journalism and punctuation. The bench held that a prima facie case of commercial disparagement had been established and said the statements were biased and lacked any independent standard.
It noted that continued availability of such content online could harm the reputation of TV Today and that such damage could not be adequately compensated through monetary relief. The court said interim protection was therefore necessary and partially allowed TV Today’s appeal, directing the removal of the remarks from digital platforms.
The dispute dates back to October 2021, when TV Today filed a defamation and copyright infringement suit alleging that Newslaundry’s videos and articles contained false and derogatory statements targeting its channels, anchors, and management. In July 2022, a single-judge bench had found a prima facie case in favour of TV Today, following which both sides filed appeals.
Newslaundry has maintained that the content in question constitutes criticism and satire protected under free speech. Co-founder Abhinandan Sekhri said the platform would explore legal options, including an appeal, and warned that the order could have broader implications for freedom of expression.
He argued that media organisations should remain open to critique and that restricting commentary, whether through satire or analysis, could set a concerning precedent.
During earlier hearings, the court had remarked that TV Today appeared overly sensitive to criticism but had also objected to the use of certain offensive language in the content.