The Bombay High Court on Thursday cautioned news channel Republic TV and its editor Arnab Goswami against adding embellishments to its coverage of court proceedings (Anil Ambani v. ARG Outlier & Ors).
Justice Arif Doctor remarked that while no one could be stopped from reporting on legal proceedings, such reporting must be confined to facts emerging from court orders and records.
“Please report all of that. No one is stopping you. But there is no need to add embellishments,” the judge said.
The Court was hearing industrialist Anil Ambani’s defamation suit against Republic TV’s owner-company, ARG Outlier.
“These embellishments need not be there. If you are reporting facts from judgments, orders, please do. No question. That is your justification. But embellishments over that need not be there,” the Court observed.
The judge also drew a line between factual reportage and commentary that rouses interest in a case.
“Public interest in knowing is one thing. Can you evoke and rouse their interest by adding embellishments is another,” the judge said.
Justice Doctor indicated that the dispute could be settled, and was ‘imminently resolvable’.
"Why can't this entire matter be resolved? Why must a truth like this lie? I mean, putting egos and tempers and all aside," the judge asked.
He eventually declined to pass any restraint order and posted the matter for further hearing on April 29.
Ambani moved the Court raising grievance that broadcasts on Republic TV went beyond fair reporting.
Advocate Mayur Khandeparkar, appearing for Ambani, argued that the reportage built a ‘damaging public perception’ about him.
“I don't think any kind of fair reporting can possibly be invoked to justify trying to assassinate somebody's character,” he argued.
The plea sought a temporary injunction against ARG Outlier (the company that owns Republic TV), Goswami and other unknown entities (John Doe parties).
During an earlier hearing, the Court had asked Republic TV and Goswami to bring down the rhetoric in his reporting
Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani appeared for Republic today and maintained that the channel's reporting fell within the confines of 'fair comment'.
“There is much more latitude, especially for the freedom of the press. And public interest in knowing, including inference statements made by journalists”, he said.
He also said that if Ambani provides a list of comments to which he has objections, they could be reconsidered if Republic feels that such comments are truly offensive.
The Court eventually posted the matter for further consideration on April 29.
Earlier too, the Court had refused to curb Republic TV from reporting on Anil Ambani, but had said that it should not publish "below-the-belt" news.
India's Cities Are Crumbling. The Rich Are Seeking Urban Oases
Charu Bahri (IndiaSpend)
16 April 2026
India’s top metros—Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, home to 75 million people—rank among the world’s 10 most populous cities. However, “population scale has not translated proportionately into urban productivity, liveability or global...
Hardest Task Is Declaring Belief of Millions as Wrong: Supreme Court in Sabarimala Reference Case
Debayan Roy (Bar
and
Bench)
15 April 2026
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that one of the most difficult tasks for a court is to declare the beliefs of millions of people as wrong or erroneous, and that a religion cannot be stripped of its essential practices in the name...
Supreme Court Stays Telangana HC Order Granting Transit Anticipatory Bail to Congress Leader Pawan Khera
Ritwik Choudhury (Bar
and
Bench)
15 April 2026
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the recent order passed by the Telangana High Court granting transit anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in the defamation and forgery case registered against him by the Assam...
Sucheta Dalal Moves Delhi Court against Ban on Media Reports Linking Manoj Sandesara to Sterling Biotech Fraud
Prashant Jha (Bar
and
Bench)
14 April 2026
Senior journalist and Moneylife’s managing editor Sucheta Dalal has moved a Delhi court challenging the order banning any news content linking Manoj Kesari Chand Sandesara or his family members to the alleged Sterling Biotech bank...
