Businessman Anil Ambani has filed a defamation suit before the Delhi High Court against New Delhi Television (NDTV) over allegedly defamatory reports on CBI and ED cases registered against him.

Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice to NDTV on Ambani's interim injunction application and listed the matter for hearing in July.

The Court said that it will be passing an interim order after hearing the matter in detail and will not pass an injunction order on the first day itself.

As Advocate Shri Venkatesh appearing for Ambani began making submissions, the Court at the outset remarked:

“Difference between news and views….It's only news. You can take me to document after document…. You have to show that news is so wrong that it requires injunction….Or wait I will register the plaint as suit and we will decide in month of July.”

Venkatesh said that majority stake in NDTV is owned by Adani and that there have been 72 “pointed publications” against Ambani in the last 8 months.

“I am distinct from the entity…There has to be some collective responsibility in media also. Please see the heading used by them. Heading goes against Anil Ambani but meat of the matter…. Reliance communications limited. There is an undertaking by me before SC that I will not leave the country,” the counsel said.

“Heading is I am barred from leaving the country. If voluntary action of mine becomes injunction of court,” he added.

However, the Court said that it will decide the interim injunction plea in July.

The suit names the following as defendants: NDTV, NDTV Convergence Limited, IANS Private Limited, Rahul Kanwal, Manoranjan Bharti, Tamanna Inamdar, Nazim Khan, Ashish Manchanda, AMG Media Network Limited, Vishvapradhan Commercial Private Limited and RRPR Holdings.

The suit is filed through Advocate Hasan Murtaza.

Title: ANIL D AMBANI v. NEW DELHI TELEVISION LIMITED & ORS