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Jay Shah defamation case: Gujarat High Court restores gag on The Wire, portal to move SC

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8 years ago

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Jay Shah defamation case: Gujarat High Court restores gag on The Wire, portal to move SC

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday restored a gag order barring news portal The Wire to write further on the “exceptional” increase in Jay Shah’s firm’s turnover, said media reports.

The order was first issued after The Wire published a story in September 2017, which alleged that the turnover of a company owned by BJP President Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah had grown 16,000 times in a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power.

The order, issued in connection with a civil defamation case against the website, stops it from publishing any content “directly or indirectly” related to Jay Shah until the defamation case is disposed of.

Siddharth Vardarajan, the co-founding editor of The Wire, said they will challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. “Going against several decades of jurisprudence, Gujarat High Court has restored gag order that trial court itself vacated after first granting Jay Amit Shah ex parte injunction against @thewire_in. We will challenge this verdict, which affects media freedom for all, in the Supreme Court,” Vardarajan said on Twitter.

The case pertains to the civil suit filed against the web portal through which Jay Shah has claimed a damage of Rs 100 crore. The Ahmedabad district court had granted an interim injunction against the portal, restraining it from further publishing anything on the same subject. In December 2017, the court lifted the injunction and ruled that barring the use of the words “Narendra Modi becoming prime minister/elected prime minister” in relation to any debate on the original article on Jay Shah, The Wire was free to publish content on his business and public activities.

Jay Shah had moved the High Court in December 2017 against the order of Ahmedabad district court. After the hearing in the case concluded on Jan 19, Justice Paresh Upadhyay reserved the verdict.

The lawyers appearing for The Wire had argued: “We stand by the article. Do we need to do the article threadbare … whether it is defamatory or not I stand by it and to succeed in interim injunction I don’t need to prove it. At this stage, the interim injunction prevents a public discourse because this article was written to agitate people to talk about it but not to create any chaos. The injunction simply prevents it.”

They argued that if the case was limited to a private person, then the comments could not be made but if he or she was connected with a public figure, business related to rise or fall will be commented upon by people.

Jay Shah’s lawyer, senior counsel Nirupam Nanavati, on the other hand, argued that the trial court had prima facie held that dragging Prime Minister in the write-up was not right. He argued: “Connecting my father’s position and Prime Minister so to tell the world that I (Jay) enhanced my business because of these connections can never said to be an honest opinion and the burden of proving that it is not defamatory is on respondents (portal). Assuming that whatever they collected from the record may be true but can you publish in this manner in the name of public interest? The language and the innuendo used don’t say their article is an honest opinion but only to malign me and my father and the Prime Minister. The trial court found that the PM was wrongly involved so the portal was restrained.”

Earlier, on Jan 8, the Gujarat High Court had also rejected the petition of the website The Wire seeking quashing of a criminal defamation case lodged against it by Jay Shah, son of BJP president Amit Shah.

The court held that there is a prima facie case against Wire’s reporter and editors. The court held that “the most disturbing part of the article”, which can be “prima facie termed as defamatory”, is linking the rise in Jay’s firm’s turnover with the election of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister.

Justice JB Pardiwala said: “The most disturbing part of the article, or to put it in other words, the imputation which could be termed as prima facie defamatory is the averment that the turnover of the company owned by the complainant, who happens to be the son of the leader of the Bhartiya Janta Party increased 16,000 times over in the year following the election of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister and the elevation of his father to the post of the party president.”

The Wire had moved the High Court against the criminal defamation case filed by Jay before a metropolitan court, days after the website put up the article “The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah”, alleging that his company’s turnover grew exponentially after the BJP came to power in 2014. The Wire had said its report is based on documentary evidence and hence they cannot be tried for criminal defamation.

Saying that there is a prima facie case against the petitioner, Justice Pardiwala observed, “What is important is the strong innuendo that the complainant has prospered because of the fact that he happens to be the son of a very powerful political leader, and that too, at a point of time when Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister of the country.”

The judgment said, “…prima facie, the article tries to portray a picture that an ordinary company, which had a meagre revenue of Rs 50,000/- proceeded to accumulate the revenue of Rs 80,00,00,000/- [Rs 80 crore] in a single year…only because of the political position of the father of the complainant and at a time when Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister.”

Justice Pardiwala also raised the question about what the effect of such an article would be in the mind of a common man. He observed that “in a country like India, it does not take a second for the people in general to start thinking that the complainant has prospered only because of his political contacts. People may even infer corrupt practice at the end of the complainant. In such circumstances, the article published by the writ applicants, prima facie, could be termed as defamatory in nature.”

Justice Pardiwala had also refused to grant relief to founding editors of the website since there are “specific and clear allegations in the complaint that they are responsible for the defamatory matter and had the personal knowledge about the contents of the defamatory matter”.

The entire issue is likely to be taken to the Supreme Court by The Wire.

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TMC faces fresh turbulence as speculation grows over possible breakaway faction in Bengal

The Trinamool Congress is facing fresh internal challenges as reports of dissent and possible plans for a breakaway political formation gain attention following the party’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

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20 mins ago

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June 2, 2026

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The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing renewed signs of internal unrest, with political speculation mounting over the possibility of a breakaway group emerging in West Bengal after the party’s recent electoral setback. Reports of disgruntled legislators distancing themselves from the party leadership have fuelled discussions about a potential new political formation led by rebel leaders rather than by veteran leader Mamata Banerjee.

The buzz comes shortly after the expulsion of two TMC MLAs over alleged anti-party activities. According to reports, concerns within the party have intensified amid claims that several legislators are unhappy with the current leadership structure and the role of the party’s top decision-makers.

Adding to the speculation, a large number of TMC legislators reportedly skipped a scheduled meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s residence, a development that has been interpreted by political observers as a sign of growing discontent within the organisation.

Split rumours gain momentum after election defeat

The developments come in the aftermath of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, in which the BJP secured a decisive victory while the Trinamool Congress suffered a major setback after 15 years in power. The defeat triggered debates within the party over its future direction and leadership.

Reports suggest that discussions are taking place among some legislators regarding the possibility of forming a separate political platform. The situation has drawn comparisons with Maharashtra’s political realignments in recent years, though no formal announcement regarding a split has been made.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has publicly dismissed rebel voices, stating that the party is stronger without those working against its interests. She has also alleged that there are organised efforts to weaken the Trinamool Congress following its electoral defeat.

While speculation continues, there has been no official confirmation of a new party being launched. Political observers say the coming weeks could determine whether the current tensions remain internal disagreements or evolve into a larger organisational challenge for the Trinamool Congress.

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TMC faces fresh turmoil as signature controversy exposes internal divisions in Bengal

A political controversy has erupted in West Bengal after two TMC MLAs alleged their signatures were used without consent on a letter endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, leading to their expulsion from the party.

Published

14 hours ago

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June 1, 2026

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Mamata Banerjee

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has found itself at the centre of a fresh political controversy after allegations emerged that signatures of some party legislators were used without their consent on a letter related to the appointment of the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.

The row intensified after two TMC MLAs, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, reportedly objected to their signatures appearing on a letter endorsing senior party leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the post of Leader of Opposition. The legislators alleged that they had not signed the document.

Allegations trigger political confrontation

The controversy gained prominence after opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari raised the issue and questioned the authenticity of the signatures submitted to the Assembly Secretariat. The allegations have fuelled a political confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition.

Authorities are examining the matter, with the authenticity of the disputed signatures becoming a key focus of the ongoing inquiry. The investigation is expected to determine whether any procedural irregularities occurred during the submission of the endorsement letter.

TMC expels two MLAs

Amid the controversy, the Trinamool Congress expelled Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha from the party. TMC leaders cited anti-party activities as the reason for the action, while the expulsions have further intensified debate around the signature dispute.

The development has brought internal disagreements within the party into public view and added to the political tensions surrounding the issue.

Inquiry continues

Officials are continuing to examine the allegations and related documents. The outcome of the inquiry is expected to clarify the circumstances under which the endorsement letter was submitted and whether any irregularities took place.

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K Annamalai likely to quit BJP after declining Rajya Sabha offer, sources say

Former Tamil Nadu leader K Annamalai is set to exit the BJP after rejecting a Rajya Sabha seat offer. Sources indicate he will launch a new public movement following strategic disagreements over assembly election alliances.

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14 hours ago

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June 1, 2026

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K Annamalai

Former Tamil Nadu party chief K Annamalai is expected to resign from the Bharatiya Janata Party following a scheduled meeting with party president Nitin Nabin in Delhi. According to media sources, the former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer believes that his growth and opportunities within the national party have reached a dead end.

The developments follow a reported offer by the leadership to secure a Rajya Sabha seat for him, which he chose to decline. Instead of continuing his journey within the party, he is highly anticipated to introduce a fresh public movement in the state. This grassroots initiative will focus on mobilizing a broad network of volunteers and connecting with like-minded individuals across diverse professional and social spectrums. When questioned regarding the ongoing speculation about establishing his own political platform, he responded, “Please wait. We will sit down and talk in two days.”

The root of tactical disagreements

The impending departure highlights a growing divide concerning the party’s electoral approach leading up to the 2026 state assembly polls. He had strongly advocated for the party to contest the elections independently, relying on the significant grassroots momentum built during his tenure. Conversely, the central leadership opted to resurrect its alliance with the AIADMK, seeking to unite opposition votes against the governing DMK.

This strategic pivot coincided with structural alterations in the state unit’s administration. Media reports indicate that AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami explicitly requested structural changes in leadership as a prerequisite for the partnership, leading to his replacement as the state president. Consequently, he did not contest the assembly elections or play an active role in the frontline campaigning. The alliance ultimately managed to secure just a single seat in the assembly elections.

A rapid political trajectory

He entered the political sphere in 2020 after stepping away from the civil services, quickly advancing through the local party hierarchy. He was appointed as the state vice-president shortly after his entry and ascended to the position of state president within a single year.

As the state chief, he became one of the most prominent faces for the party in a region traditionally dominated by regional Dravidian parties. Through extensive mass outreach programs, aggressive digital campaigns, and high-visibility public interactions, he substantially enhanced the national party’s presence in the state. Despite the momentum, his opposition to traditional alliances and subsequent exclusion from national organizational roles created friction, paving the way for his expected departure.

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