APOLOGIES EXPOSE THE LIE: THE WIRE MUST NOW FACE TRIAL, SAYS FORMER J&K CS ARUN MEHTA
Adv. Vasudev Sharan Swain vows to pursue the case to the end
New Delhi — In CS(OS) 859/2025, the Court on 30 September 2026 recorded that Defendant Nos. 3 and 5 have admitted their mistake and published apologies regarding the article at the centre of the suit. On the plaintiff’s request, their names have been deleted from the array of parties.
The plaintiff Sh Mehta states that these apologies confirm what he has maintained from the beginning: the original allegations were false, reckless, and reputation-destroying.
The plaintiff, represented by Advocate Vasudev Sharan Swain, stated in no uncertain terms that this is not a quiet retreat — it is a turning point.“The apologies are not a courtesy. They are an admission. Those who repeated the allegations have now accepted they were wrong. The Wire, the original publisher that was quoted by other platforms, cannot hide behind others. It remains a contesting defendant and will now face trial on the merits. We will pursue this to the end,” said Adv. Swain.
The Court also allowed the written statements of Defendant Nos. 1, 2 and 4 to be taken on record, subject to costs of Rs. 10,000 each. The plaintiff has made clear that if the remaining defendants tender a similar apology, he is willing to withdraw the case against them. Defendant No. 4 has sought time to consider. The matter is next listed on 15 December 2026.
The plaintiff calls upon every media platform that carried the false allegations to correct the record with the same prominence. “You cannot destroy a reputation with a headline and then bury the apology in a footnote. The damage must be undone. The truth must be published as loudly as the lie,” said Adv. Swain.
The Wire, which the plaintiff identifies as the original publisher and the source quoted by others, remains a contesting defendant and will now face trial. The plaintiff will not withdraw against any defendant who refuses to apologise and continues to stand by the allegations.
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