HC summons Arnab Goswami in a Rs 2 crore defamation case filed by Congress

In not-so-good news for Arnab Goswami and Republic TV, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a summons in a defamation suit filed by the Indian National Congress over a May 2025 broadcast claiming that the party operated an office in Turkey. The Congress party has sought damages of Rs 2 crore, according to Bar and Bench. 

According to LiveLaw, the court stated: “Let plaint be registered as a suit. Issue summons to defendants by all modes. Written statement within 30 days. Issue notice in application for interim injunction. Reply within four weeks.”

The matter will now be heard on May 19.

During a May 2025 broadcast, Goswami claimed that the Congress operated an office in Turkey, following which an FIR was registered against Goswami and the BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya, according to LiveLaw.

The claim was allegedly made in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor based on reports that Turkey had sided with Pakistan. Following its broadcast on Republic TV, the claim was circulated on social media. 

According to Bar and Bench, Goswami allegedly said: “If you’re a Congress party voter, if you’re among that vanishing group of people who are a Congress party voter, then I want to ask you something. What kind of business does your party have in Turkey?”, thus claiming that the party is “with the enemies of the nation”.

“They are non-committal on Turkey. What kind of a party is this? How much more will this party compromise our national interest?” Goswami added.

However, subsequent fact checks confirmed that the building actually shown during the broadcast was the Istanbul Congress Centre, “a convention venue, run by the Istanbul municipality, and not a political party office,” noted Bar and Bench. 

Once this was confirmed, Republic TV apologised for “erroneously depicting a building as the Congress office in Turkey”. According to LiveLaw, the channel claimed that a video editor on their digital desk “inadvertently” used the wrong image.

“An incorrect image was inadvertently used, erroneously depicting a building as the Congress office in Turkey, by a video editor on the Digital desk due to a technical error. The image had no connection to the content or context of the said video. This clip was not broadcast on Arnab Goswami's Debate show on 15th May 2025 or thereafter, and was not taken on-air, nor was the said erroneous image in any way related to the subject matter being discussed. The inadvertent error occurred after the live show ended and was carried on the digital platform. The moment it was brought to our attention, it was promptly rectified. We sincerely and unconditionally regret the error,” the public apology said.

According to LiveLaw, the Karnataka High Court passed an interim order on May 22, 2025, that stayed further investigation in the FIR, which was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Shrikant Swaroop B N, head of the IYC’s legal cell. The complaint alleged that Goswami and Malviya orchestrated a “criminally motivated campaign” claiming that the party had an international office in Turkey.  

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