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Bennett Coleman and Company Limited (BCCL) has approached the Delhi High Court seeking action against Sameet Thakkar holding him to be liable of contempt of court on account of non-compliance of orders dated 13th July, 2020 wherein the High Court had directed him to take down “derogatory tweets” made against the company & restrained him from doing so in the future.

Accordingly, BCCL has sought Thakkar be sentenced with appropriate punishment in accordance with law for such contempt.

It has been further sought that Thakkar should fully obey and implement orders of the High Court and remove all remaining tweets/ retweets/ publications available on his twitter handle “@thakkar_sameet”.

BCCL has in this regard filed an application under Order 39 Rule 2A CPC read with Sections 10 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

Originally, a suit was filed by BCCL seeking permanent injunction along with other consequential reliefs against Thakkar for unauthorizedly, illegally, dishonestly, malafidely making, publishing, republishing, incorrect, defamatory statements against the officials and top management of the BCCL with the intention to dilute, harm its reputation and of its top management. 

In July, 2020 the High Court had granted an ex-parte ad interim injunction in BCCL's favour asking Thakker to take down the derogatory tweets.

Assailing non-compliance of the said order, BCCl has moved an application before the High Court.

The application filed through Tandon & Co. states that while trying to mischievously circumvent the Court's order, Thakker published another tweet which effectively retained and reiterated defamatory content against BCCL, under the garb of compliance of the Order passed in July, 2020.

In its application, BCCL has relied on a tweet made by Thakker on March 28, 2022 saying that it is in direct violation of the court's order. The tweet is said to be made in relation to the subject matter of the instant suit.

BCCL has further sought action against Twitter for taking down that said tweet made on March 28 

Case Title: Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited vs Sameet Thakkar and Anr