'Report But Don't Use Embellishments': Bombay High Court Tells Republic TV, Arnab Goswami Over Coverage Of Cases On Anil Ambani

Single-judge Justice Arif Doctor made it clear that he was not going to pass any gag order against the channel but asked Goswami to tone down the tenor of his reporting against Ambani.

This comes after the bench was informed by advocate Mayur Khandeparkar, who represented Ambani, that Goswami has been using words such as "fraudster" "stupid" etc. which are highly objectionable and defamatory and damages his client's reputation.

Khandeparkar informed the judge that Goswami must continue with the understanding that was arrived before the bench of Justice Milind Jadhav, who had clearly told the journalist "not to hit below the belt."

However, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani appearing for Goswami raised the defence of fair comment. He said that his client was merely reporting on facts as culled out from the order passed against Ambani by quasi-judicial authorities like the SEBI, which has used terms such as “orchestrated fraud” in relation to the underlying issues.

At this, Justice Doctor clarified that no one is stopping the channel from reporting anything but, there is no need of embellishments. The Court said that the channel may continue its reporting of judgments and orders but, it should name make embellishments over it.

The judge further asked Ambani's counsel to furnish the defamatory and objectionable portions of the video clips that were aired on the channel, so that the defendants can consider the same.

The matter will now be heard further on April 29.

Case Title: Anil Ambani vs Arnab Goswami (IA(L) 10035 of 2026)