Greenpeace India campaign is motivated: Essar to HC

Essar House Ltd has alleged before the Bombay High Court that a campaign carried out by Greenpeace India against it (Essar Group) for preservation of forests was "motivated, controlled and instigated by external vested interests."

This was stated in an affidavit, filed by Essar on Thursday, on a notice of motion taken out by the company in a suit praying that the defendants be restrained from publishing defamatory material with respect to the proposed Essar Coal-fired power plant project at Mahan in Madhya Pradesh.

Essar filed a defamation suit against Greenpeace and others in the High Court after the volunteers of the latter unfurled a huge banner from the Essar House at Mahalaxmi here saying "We kill forests."

In the notice of motion, Essar averred that the defendants have "acted maliciously and with a oblique motive of somehow furthering their narrow political agenda at the cost of the Essar Group's image, reputation and goodwill." Justice S J Kathawala, taking the affidavit on record, has posted the matter for hearing on Monday.