Rajesh Krishna’s ₹10 crore defamation case to be heard in Delhi HC on September 1

New Delhi: A defamation suit filed by Rajesh Krishna, a London-based member of the CPM, will be heard again by the Delhi High Court on September 1. The petition includes documentary evidence, such as a confidential complaint submitted to the CPM politburo.

The case has been filed against B Mohammed Sharshad, a Malayali businessman based in Chennai, as well as several media outlets, along with Google and Meta, over the alleged circulation of defamatory content.

Rajesh Krishna is seeking ₹10 crore in damages. The petition also demands that all defamatory content published against him be removed from online platforms and that future defamatory reporting be legally restrained.

As part of the evidence submitted, the petition includes a copy of a confidential complaint lodged by Sharshad to politburo member Ashok Dhawale, social media posts by Sharshad targeting Rajesh Krishna, and relevant media coverage. The plea also argues that the claims suggesting Rajesh Krishna was expelled from the CPM Madurai Party Congress are false.

The defamation suit was filed on May 16 in the Delhi High Court, shortly after the Party Congress, through advocate Jojo Jose, a national executive committee member of the party’s Minority Morcha. Since the confidential complaint was addressed to the politburo at the CPM’s Delhi headquarters, and the allegedly defamatory reports circulated in Delhi-based media as well, the Delhi High Court was chosen as the appropriate jurisdiction.

Although the case was initially listed on July 17, it was not heard that day. It came up for the first time on August 13, when the respondents requested more time to present their replies. Following that, the next hearing has been scheduled for September 1.