New Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued summons to Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, in a defamation suit filed by the Indian National Congress.

The case relates to allegations that Goswami falsely claimed the Istanbul Congress Centre in Turkiye was an office of the Congress party.

Justice Mini Pushkarna, however, declined to grant interim relief at this stage, noting that the broadcast in question was aired in May 2025.

During the hearing, the Congress’s counsel argued that the statement was made in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and continues to harm the party’s reputation. The counsel sought an injunction to restrain further circulation of the content, claiming that it was admitted to be false and still being discussed.

The court directed Goswami to file his response to the plea seeking interim relief within four weeks and scheduled the next hearing for May 19.

“Let the plaint be registered as a suit. Issue summons,” the court said.

Separately, in May 2025, a complaint was filed by the Indian Youth Congress legal cell against Goswami and Amit Malviya, accusing them of spreading false information regarding the Istanbul Congress Centre.

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An FIR was registered in Bengaluru based on the complaint, alleging that the claim was deliberately circulated in the context of strained ties between India and Turkiye. However, the investigation in that case was later stayed by the Karnataka High Court.