The Bombay High Court issued a temporary injunction restraining a Shiv Sena leader from making defamatory, slanderous, libelous or communal remarks against a slum developer, stressing that such statements cannot be permitted under law during the dispute.
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court prohibited Sanjay Nirupam, a leader from the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and former Congress Member of Parliament (MP), from making defamatory and communal statements against Chandiwala Enterprises, a Mumbai-based developer.
The developer accused Nirupam of slandering it by alleging that the redevelopment of the Shree Shankar Society was part of a secret campaign involving Muslim developers who, with the assistance of Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) officials, unlawfully register slums under Muslim names.
These comments were made in a letter dated February 20, 2025, and reiterated during press conferences and public statements.
Justice RI Chagla, presiding over a single Bench, noted that the claims were prima facie “wholly untrue.”
He stated,
“I prima facie find these allegations to be wholly untrue, considering that out of the 67 residents of the Shree Shankar Society, there are 7 Muslim residents. Thus, the allegation made that the redevelopment is a secret campaign in which Muslims Developers take up slum development projects and illegally register slums in the name of Muslims by taking SRA officials along with them in their project is, in my prima facie view, wholly untrue,”
The Court was informed that Nirupam had disregarded multiple notices related to the defamation case and failed to attend two previous hearings. Although a legal notice was delivered to his residence, he allegedly tore it up and returned it.
Even after being served via email and WhatsApp, he did not appear in Court. An advocate did show up at the last moment, seeking time to file a vakalatnama.
In its interim order, the Court restrained Nirupam from making any defamatory remarks against the developer, establishing that a prima facie case had been made against him.
The order stated,
“The Defendant is restrained by way of temporary order of injunction from making or publishing any defamatory/ slanderous or libelous statement / imputation against the Plaintiffs of the like nature as that contained in the documents, which are annexed at Exh.A to the additional Affidavit dated 9th August 2025.”
Also Read: Shiv Sena Leader’s Murder Convict Granted Bail for Law Entrance Exam
Nirupam’s lawyer has been given one week to file a vakalatnama and two weeks to submit a formal response.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2025.
Senior Advocate Janak Dwarkadas, along with advocates Cherag Balsara, Yogesh Patil, and Sanjeev Singh, instructed by Ritesh Singh, represented Chandiwala Enterprises. Advocate Mahesh B. Gupte appeared on behalf of Nirupam.
Case Title: Chandiwala Enterprises Private Limited & Ors v Sanjay Nirupam
Read Attachment