Court grants time to magazine to file reply in defamation suit

A city court today granted time till September 9 to 'Caravan' magazine and six others to file their replies in a Rs 250 crore civil defamation suit filed by the Essar Group alleging that a report published in the periodical had defamed its image.
The City Civil and Sessions Court judge J V Pandya granted the time after advocate Moti Ramani, appearing for the magazine, sought four weeks time to file a reply in the suit.
The suit against the story published by the magazine in its edition of August has named, apart from the magazine, its printer and publisher 'Delhi Press Patra Prakashan Limited', its Editor-in-Chief Paresh Nath, Editor Anant Nath, Executive Editor Vinod Jose, Political Editor Hartosh Singh Bal and the author of the reportage and staff writer of the magazine Krishan Kaushiak as defendants.

The court also told them to give an advance copy of their submission to the Essar group before September 9.
On August 21, Essar Steel India limited had filed the suit stating that a cover story of the magazine 'Doing the Needful; Essar's industry of influence' contains per se defamatory statements and comments without the least justification.
The court had on August 21, issued notice to all the defendants and asked them to file their reply to the civil suit by today.
The suit contended that the cover story published by magazine made allegations against Essar group's founder Ruia family (founder Shashi Ruia and co-founder Ravi Ruia) of protecting their interest over the shareholders' interest.

It also alleged how Essar wielded influence over Indian government.