New Delhi, Sep 30: The Delhi High Court has recorded apologies tendered by two defendants in a defamation suit filed by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, resulting in their removal from the proceedings.
The development came during the hearing of CS(OS) 859/2025, Arun Kumar Mehta v. Ashok Kumar Ranchhodbhai Parmar & Ors., before Justice Manoj Jain.
Counsel for Mehta, Advocate Vasudev Sharan Swain, informed the court that Defendant Nos. 3 and 5 had realised their mistake and published apologies concerning the article in question. Mehta, who was present in person, said he was no longer interested in pursuing the case against them.
The court subsequently directed that the two defendants be deleted from the array of parties and recorded that their apologies had been placed on record.
The proceedings now continue against Ashok Kumar Ranchhodbhai Parmar, The Wire and The Kashmiriyat, according to the plaintiff’s case.
The court, however, did not adjudicate on the truth or falsity of the allegations at this stage. The September 30 order records the apologies, the plaintiff’s decision not to pursue the case against the two defendants and their consequent deletion from the proceedings.
Written statements taken on record
The court also considered applications by Defendant Nos. 1, 2 and 4 seeking condonation of delay in filing their written statements.
The plaintiff’s counsel said the statements had been filed belatedly but within the permissible outer period of 120 days, and raised no objection to them being taken on record subject to costs.
Justice Manoj Jain allowed the applications and directed that the written statements be taken on record, while imposing ₹10,000 costs on each of the three defendants, payable to the plaintiff within four weeks.
The plaintiff has also indicated that the proceedings against the remaining defendants could be withdrawn if they tender apologies similar to those already placed on record.
According to the proceedings, counsel for Mehta submitted that the plaintiff would withdraw the case against the other defendants if they offered similar apologies. Defendant No. 4 sought time to consider the proposal.
The matter has been listed for further consideration on December 15, 2026.
