Today, On 17th March, Delhi High Court issued summons to Arnab Goswami in a defamation suit filed by the Congress party over his ‘Turkey Office’ remark. The court refused to pass any interim order, noting the broadcast aired in May 2025.
The Delhi High Court issued summons to Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami in a defamation suit brought by the Congress party over his assertion that the party maintained an office in Turkey.
Justice Mini Pushkarna declined to grant any interim relief, noting that the allegedly defamatory broadcast was aired in May 2025.
She said,
“I will issue summons that’s all. The broadcast is from May 2025,”
Counsel for the Congress argued that the offending material remained accessible and pointed to supporting articles.
The court responded, and scheduled the matter for further consideration in May.
The Court stated,
“I will give you a short date,” ,
The court directed,
“Issue summons to defendants by all modes. Issue notice in IA (for interim injunction). Reply (to be filed) in four weeks. Next date of hearing in May.”
Earlier, The Indian National Congress (INC) filed adefamation suit in the Delhi High Court against journalist Arnab Goswami over remarks he made on Republic TV asserting that the Congress had an office in Turkey.
In May 2025, Goswami claimed the Congress operated an office in “Turjey.” The allegation was broadcast on Republic TV and spread across social media, accompanied by an image of a building in Istanbul presented as the party’s overseas office.
This assertion came amid the fallout from Operation Sindoor, when Turkey took a stance seen as sympathetic to Pakistan.
During the broadcast, Goswami said,
“If you’re a Congress party voter, if you’re among that vanishing group of people who are a Congress party voter, then I want to ask you something. What kind of business does your party have in Turkey?”
He added that the Congress was, at present, “with the enemies of the nation” and accused the party of being non-committal toward Turkey, “They are non-committal on Turkey. What kind of a party is this? How much more will this party compromise our national interest?”
Independent checks and reports later established that the image used showed the Istanbul Congress Centre a municipal convention venue not a political party’s office. The Congress denied the allegation and accused Goswami of spreading misinformation and defaming the party.
Republic TV subsequently described the use of the image as an editorial error.