The Wire-Jay Shah defamation case: The Wire’s lawyer says ‘no question of any settlement’

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court suggested to the lawyers representing The Wire in the Rs 100-crore criminal defamation case to “resolve differences” with the petitioner, BJP chief Amit Shah’s son, Jay Shah. The suggestion was refused by The Wire‘s counsel.

According to reports, Shah’s counsel had said that “his client was open to a settlement.”

On October 8, 2017, an article was published in The Wire, titled: The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah. The story was regarding the sudden increase in the turnover of a Jay Shah-owned firm. To which, Shah’s lawyer, Manik Dogra had responded with a warning of “criminal and civil defamation proceedings.”

Tweeting about the settlement suggestion, MK Venu, founding editor of The Wire wrote: “Hearing the Jay Amit Shah matter SC today asked if The Wire wanted to explore a settlement with the petitioner. The Wire lawyer Nitya Ramakrishnan told court the story was factual & aimed at informing the public. Hence what a settlement in such circumstances could be was unclear.”