A court cannot determine a prima facie case of defamation if the evidence provided in a foreign language lacks complete and accurate translations.

O R D E R

% 29.05.2026

I.A. 15454/2026 (under Section 151 CPC seeking exemption from filing/dim/illegible documents)

1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

2. Application stands disposed of.

I.A. 15455/2026 (under Section 151 CPC seeking exemption from serving defendant nos. 3, 4, 6 to 9, 12, 15 to 17, 21, 22, 25 to 27)

3. Issue notice.

4. Mr. Satyam Chaturvedi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of defendant no.5 and Mr. Santosh Kumar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of defendant nos.11 and 13, accept notice.

5. On plaintiff taking steps, notice be issued to defendant nos.1 to 4, 6 to 10, 12 and 14 to 27 by all permissible modes.

6. Let reply to the application be filed within a period of 4 weeks.

7. Rejoinder thereto, if any, be filed within a period of two weeks thereafter.

8. List before the learned Joint Registrar for completion of service and pleadings on 10.07.2026.

CS(OS) 509/2026

9. The plaint be registered as suit.

10. Issue summons to the defendants.

11. Mr. Satyam Chaturvedi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of defendant no.5 and Mr. Santosh Kumar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of defendant nos.11 and 13, accept summons and waive formal service of summons.

12. They submit that copy of the plaint, I.A.s and documents have been received by them.

13. Let written statement be filed by aforesaid defendants within a period of thirty days from today.

14. On plaintiff taking steps, summons be issued to defendant nos.1-4, 6-10, 12, 14-27 by all permissible modes.

15. The summons shall indicate that written statement must be filed within thirty days from the date of receipt of summons.

16. The defendants shall also file an affidavit of admission/denial of the documents filed by the plaintiff, failing which the written statement shall not be taken on record.

17. The plaintiff is at liberty to file replication thereto within thirty days after filing of the written statement. The replication shall be accompanied by affidavit of admission/denial in respect of the documents filed by the defendants, failing which the replication shall not be taken on record.

18. It is made clear that any unjustified denial of documents may lead to an order of costs against the concerned party.

19. Any party seeking inspection of documents may do so in accordance with the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018.

20. List before the learned Joint Registrar for completion of service, pleadings, admission/denial of documents and marking of exhibits on 07.10.2026.

21. List before Court thereafter on a date assigned by the learned Joint Registrar.

I.A. 15453/2026 (under Order XXXIX Rules 1 & 2 read with Section 151 CPC filed by plaintiff seeking ad-interim and interim injunction)

22. Issue notice.

23. Mr. Satyam Chaturvedi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of defendant no.5 and Mr. Santosh Kumar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of defendant nos.11 and 13, accept notice.

24. On plaintiff taking steps, notice be issued to defendant nos.1 to 4, 6 to 10, 12 and 14 to 27 by all permissible modes.

25. A perusal of the record reveals that the URLs of the videos, as well as, the articles relied upon by the plaintiff, which are alleged to be defamatory in nature, are in the Marathi language. Furthermore, the extracts and translations furnished thereof are incomplete and disjointed, rendering it difficult for this Court to prima facie discern the essential ingredients of defamation from the documents on record.

26. In view of the same, the plaintiff is granted liberty to place on record the complete English translation of the transcripts of the alleged defamatory videos, as well as the English translation of the alleged