Delhi court summons congress leaders over journalist Rajat Sharma defamation case

The complaint originates from accusations levelled in June 2024

by e4m Staff
Published: Feb 3, 2026 7:55 PM | 1 min read

Summons were issued by a Delhi court on Monday to Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in connection with a criminal complaint filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, alleging defamation and the use of forged and falsified electronic material.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Devanshi Janmeja, South-East District, Saket Courts, passed the order after finding sufficient prima facie material to proceed against the accused under Sections 465, 469, 471, 499 and 500 of the IPC.

The complaint originates from accusations levelled in June 2024, alleging that Rajat Sharma made derogatory comments about Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live TV debate. Sharma has rejected the allegations, stating they were based on an altered video that diverged from the original telecast.

The complaint alleges that a manipulated video featuring superimposed captions was first uploaded on X by Nayak, after which it was amplified by Khera and Ramesh through retweets and public statements. Sharma has said the video’s circulation resulted in significant reputational loss and mental distress.

Observing the case, the court cited forensic findings of video tampering and witness testimony that no offensive language was used by the complainant. The court referred to an earlier Delhi High Court ruling that had noted the absence of abusive language and ordered the disputed posts to be taken down.

With the summons issued, the case now advances, and the Congress leaders must respond to the charges in court.