Delhi HC Issues Notice on Anil Ambani’s ₹2 Crore Defamation Suit Against TOI, ET and PTI

May 20, 2026 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on a civil defamation suit filed by industrialist Anil Ambani seeking damages of ₹2 crore against Bennett Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL), publisher of The Times of India and The Economic Times, along with news agency Press Trust of India (PTI), over media reports relating to ongoing investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) into companies associated with the Reliance Group.

The single-judge Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad directed the defendants to file their responses and listed the matter for further hearing on August 24.

According to the suit, Ambani alleged that several media reports falsely projected him as being personally involved in alleged financial irregularities concerning Reliance Communications Limited, Reliance Home Finance Limited and Reliance Commercial Finance Limited.

The plea stated that the reports were based on unverified sources and speculative material, causing serious harm to Ambani’s reputation and goodwill. It further contended that the investigations pertained to corporate entities and not to Ambani in his personal capacity. The suit also claimed that Ambani was not involved in the day-to-day affairs of the companies during the relevant period.

The plaint further stated that legal notices issued in November and December 2025, seeking removal of the allegedly defamatory content and publication of unconditional apologies, were ignored by the media organisations, prompting the filing of the present suit.

Appearing for Ambani, Advocate Tanmaya Mehta urged the Court to restrain media houses from reporting oral observations made during court proceedings unless such observations formed part of written judicial orders. However, the Court declined to grant interim relief on this request.

The suit also referred to separate proceedings initiated by Ambani against NDTV and IANS, both owned by the Adani Group. Ambani alleged that NDTV had published multiple targeted reports against him as part of what he described as predatory business practices aimed at taking over his companies.