NEW DELHI – A Delhi court has officially issued summons to senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, and Ragini Nayak in a criminal defamation and forgery case. The order, passed on February 2, 2026, by Judicial Magistrate Devanshi Janmeja at Saket Courts, marks a significant escalation in the legal battle initiated by veteran journalist and India TV Chairman Rajat Sharma.
The case centers on allegations that the leaders used “doctored” content to damage Sharma’s long-standing professional reputation
The Core Dispute: June 2024 Live Debate
The controversy dates back to a live television debate during the 2024 Election Result coverage. Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak alleged that Rajat Sharma used an abusive word against her on-air.
The Court’s Findings on Evidence:
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Forensic Verification: The court relied on a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report which confirmed that the video circulated by the Congress leaders showed “visible alterations.”
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Manipulation Allegations: The complaint stated that the leaders recorded the live telecast and superimposed derogatory captions that were not part of the original broadcast.
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Lack of Original Grievance: The court noted that no objection was raised by the leaders for six days following the telecast, suggesting the subsequent social media posts were part of a “concerted design.”
Serious Criminal Charges
The Magistrate found sufficient prima facie material to proceed under several stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC):
Legal Context and High Court Precedent
The Saket Court’s decision aligns with an earlier ruling by the Delhi High Court, which had already observed that there was no evidence of abusive language in the unedited footage. The High Court had previously ordered the immediate removal of the “defamatory” social media posts from X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.
What Happens Next?
With the summons now issued, the three Congress leaders are legally required to appear before the Magistrate to respond to the charges. If convicted under the forgery sections (465/469), the leaders could face imprisonment for up to three years, while the defamation charges carry a maximum penalty of two years.
