T. V. TODAY NETWORK LIMITED Vs. COGNATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Plaintiff - T.V. Today Network Limited, part of the India Today Group of Companies by way of the present application seeks interim relief, in a suit for permanent and mandatory injunctions and damages against Defendant Nos. 1 and 2 on account of a defamatory tweet(A post made on the Twitter online message service (Merriam-Webster.com)) in the form of an infographic (A visual representation of information or data (Lexico.com)) posted on the micro-blogging platform - Twitter (Defendant No. 3), which has also been shared on the social media platforms - Instagram (Defendant No. 4) and Facebook (Defendant No. 5).

(2.) The India Today Group of Companies has widespread commercial interests in both print and electronic media and is engaged in diverse business activities ranging from printing and publishing of magazines, journals, periodicals, to running of news channels, infotainment programs, organizing conferences, seminars, music shows, and running F.M. radio channels. The Plaintiff operates a Twitter handle @IndiaToday , verified by Defendant No. 3 as original, to meet the need of the current times and to stay connected with its viewers, consumers and readers in the social media space. On this Twitter handle, the Plaintiff posts breaking news and other news stories to provide information and updates to its audience.

(3.) The Plaintiff alleges that Defendant No. 1 through Defendant No. 2 has, in a premeditated, planned and systematic manner launched an attack against the Plaintiff-Company by posting a defamatory infographic dated 15th April, 2021 and sharing the same on the social media platforms of Defendant Nos. 4 and 5. The said post is per se false, baseless and defamatory as it seems to suggest that the Plaintiff is adopting two different approaches in news reporting and is biased against the Islamic/ Muslim community. FACTUAL MATRIX