Delhi High Court Grants Interim Relief To Hyderabad-Based Dairy Company Over Reports Linking It To Tirupati Laddu Row
The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to a Hyderabad-based dairy company in a defamation suit filed against a media house, television channel and digital platforms over reports allegedly linking it to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee/laddus adulteration.
The suit has been instituted by Heritage Foods Limited alleging that a series of newspaper reports, television broadcasts and online publications falsely associated it with the supply of adulterated ghee to the Tirupati temple.
The case relates to alleged use of adulterated ghee for the preparation of laddus offered as prasadam at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple.
The plaintiffs contended that the reports sought to draw a misleading connection between Heritage Foods and an entity accused in the TTD ghee scam by exploiting similarity in names, despite there being no business relationship between them.
According to the plaintiffs, the impugned publications were issued on February 14, with “reckless disregard for the truth”, even though official investigation records and public documents showed that neither Heritage Foods nor its business associates were named in the FIRs or charge sheets relating to the TTD ghee matter.
After considering the pleadings, Justice Mini Pushkarna held that a prima facie case had been made out and that the balance of convenience lay in favour of granting interim protection.
As such, the Court restrained the defendants from publishing to take down the impugned article and impugned reports, and any other publication containing identical as well as similar statements.
The Court has also issued summons in the main suit and listed the matter for further hearing on July 09.
Appearance: Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Mr. Anurag Ahluwalia, Sr. Advs. with Mr. Sanjay Abbot, Mr. Arshdeep Singh, Mr. Nitesh Gupta, Mr. Ayush Agarwal, Ms. Sanjana Mishra, Mr. Krisna Gambhir, Ms. Shreya Sethi, Ms. Riya Kumar, Advocates for Plaintiffs; Ms. Amee Rana, Mr. Yash Karunakaran, Mr. Tanuj Sharma, Ms. Tanvi Raina, Mr. Debditya Saha, Advocates for D-6
Case title: Heritage Foods Limited v. Jagati Publications Limited & Ors.
Case no.: CS(OS) 162/2026