Heritage Foods has initiated a civil defamation suit before the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi on February 19, 2026, against Sakshi Media House and associated parties. The suit targets a campaign of false and malicious publications intended to tarnish the company’s reputation and goodwill. Heritage Foods is seeking permanent injunctions and damages of Rs. 100 Crores against the primary defendants for the irreparable harm caused.
Initiation of Legal Proceedings
Heritage Foods Limited (the Company) formally informed the stock exchanges on February 19, 2026, regarding the institution of a civil defamation suit in the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. This action was taken against Jagati Publications Limited (Sakshi Telugu News Daily), Indira Television Limited (Sakshi TV), and other related parties (collectively referred to as the Defendants).
The Company asserts that the Defendants engaged in a sustained campaign of false, baseless, malicious, and defamatory publications and social media allegations. These actions were deemed to have the clear intent of damaging the Company’s reputation, goodwill, and credibility.
Key Reliefs Sought in Court
The Company sought several interim prayers from the High Court. These include:
- Permanent and Mandatory Injunction: Restraining the Defendants from posting, publishing, writing, broadcasting, or republishing any false, misleading, or defamatory content concerning the Company across any platform.
- Mandatory Injunction for Removal: Directing the Defendants to immediately remove and cease dissemination of all existing false, misleading, and defamatory content published against the Company on all platforms.
- Claim for Damages: Seeking Damages of Rs. 100 Crores (Rupees One Hundred Crores) against Defendant Nos. 1 to 4 due to grave and irreparable harm caused to the Company’s reputation and business.
High Court’s Interim Order
Following submissions by the Company’s counsel, the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi passed an Order on February 19, 2026, granting several interim directions:
- Defendant Nos. 1 to 4 and Defendant No. 9 were restrained from posting or publishing any defamatory content on any web platform or physical newspaper.
- Defendant Nos. 1 to 4 were directed to take down the impugned article and reports, and any identical or similar statements, from their profiles on Defendant Nos. 6 to 8’s platforms.
- Specific deadlines were imposed: Defendant Nos. 1 to 3 must take down the article dated February 14, 2026, and related reports published on www.sakshi.com within 24 hours. Similar directives were given for defamatory content on ‘Sakshi TV’ platforms.
- A critical clause stated that if Defendant Nos. 1 to 3 failed to comply within 24 hours, Defendant Nos. 6 to 8 (platform operators) must take down the impugned content.
Clarification on Allegations
The defamatory article linked Heritage Foods to Bhole Baba Oroganic Milk, alleged to be the primary accused in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (“TTD”) Scam involving adulterated ghee supply. The Company clarified to the court that it has business dealings with an entirely different entity, Bhole Baba Milk Food Industries (Dholpur) Private Limited, and has never had any dealings with Bhole Baba Oroganic Milk.
The Company further noted that the CBI investigation into the TTD scam (FIR against Bhole Baba Oroganic Milk) has not named either Heritage Foods or its business associate.
Next Steps and Compliance
The Company emphasized that the subsequent clarification published by Defendant No. 1 on Page 3 of the newspaper was insufficient to repair the damage, as Defendant No. 4 had not retracted the statements on other platforms, including YouTube.
The High Court also granted the plaintiffs liberty to file/affix the requisite Court Fees within one week from the date of the order. The case is scheduled to be listed before the Joint Registrar (Judicial) on April 06, 2026, and subsequently before the Court on July 09, 2026.
Source: BSE
