Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation files plea against Nakkheeran Publications in Supreme Court for publishing ‘defamatory’ content

In response to Nakkheeran's transfer petition in Supreme Court, Isha Foundation has now filed an application seeking to restrain publication of any defamatory content by it.

The Isha Foundation has filed a plea against Tamil media outlet Nakkheeran Publications in the Supreme Court for allegedly “continuing to publish defamatory content.”

The plea by Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation was mentioned before a division bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi on Wednesday (July 16), LiveLaw reported.

The court has listed the matter for next Monday (July 21).

Isha Foundation had filed a defamation suit against Nakkheeran Publications before the Delhi High Court last year in December, claiming that some of its content maligned its reputation, demanding Rs 3 crores as damages.

Isha Foundation accused the media outlet of publishing allegedly defamatory videos.

In the plea submitted before the Delhi High Court on December 2, Jaggi Vasudev had asked for the removal of the videos and demanded Rs 3 crores as damages.

The plea also added Google as a respondent to the case because the videos and reports are available on its platforms including YouTube.

Later, Nakkheeran Publications filed a transfer petition before the Supreme Court and sought transfer of the defamation case from Delhi to Chennai.

In response to Nakkheeran's transfer petition, Isha Foundation has now filed an application seeking to restrain publication of any defamatory content by it.

During the July 16 mentioning, LiveLaw reported that its counsel Rohatgi argued that the Tamil Media outlet is continuing its "vilification campaign" against the Foundation.

He pointed out that Nakkheeran has filed a transfer petition before the Supreme Court, saying that the defamation suit ought to be pursued in Chennai.

Highlighting that a chamber judge has issued notice on its transfer plea, Rohatgi contended that the it cannot be a ground for transfer.

Rohatgi, on behalf of Isha Foundation, has reportedly said that the media outlet cannot have a transfer and carry on this [vilification].

“IA (interloculatory application) is to stop him from carrying on this defamatory campaign, why moving transfer here and stultifying.. he [media outlet] must stop if he wants the jurisdiction of this Court to be utilized...we are a charitable organization with disciples all across the world...today, on social media, he's going on and on...", Isha Foundation’s counsel Rohatgi has been quoted as saying.