The tweet was posted at 8:20 AM and remained live for nearly two hours before it was deleted at 10:00 AM on the same day. Despite being taken down immediately, the damage caused by the misinformation was significant, as it quickly spread across social media platforms and raised questions about Mr. Rai’s professional reputation and integrity.
NEW DELHI: On May 30, 2023, a tweet was posted that caused a great deal of confusion and distress. The tweet falsely claimed that Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, Mr. Pradeep Rai, had been summoned by the Special Task Force (STF) for questioning.
It further alleged that Mr. Rai was a relative of one Sanjay Rai Sherpuria and served as a director in his companies. These claims were completely baseless and unfounded.
The tweet was posted at 8:20 AM and remained live for nearly two hours before it was deleted at 10:00 AM on the same day. Despite being taken down immediately, the damage caused by the misinformation was significant, as it quickly spread across social media platforms and raised questions about Mr. Rai’s professional reputation and integrity.
Upon realizing the error and its potential consequences, the social media account responsible for the post issued a statement retracting the false information. They deeply regretted the mistake and offered a full, unqualified, and unconditional apology to Mr. Pradeep Rai, his family, and friends.
The apology acknowledged the emotional distress caused by the tweet and expressed a sincere commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future.
Earlier, Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai and Aroon Purie, Chairman of the India Today Group, both agreed before the Delhi High Court to explore the possibility of reaching an amicable settlement regarding a criminal defamation case filed by the senior lawyer.
During a hearing in the Delhi High Court, Justice Anish Dayal verbally suggested that the parties explore the possibility of a settlement. Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai expressed willingness to consider mediation but insisted that Aroon Purie and the news channel issue an apology for their reporting.
After hearing from both Aroon Purie and Pradeep Rai, Justice Dayal noted that the parties had agreed to try and reach an amicable resolution. Senior Advocate Maninder Singh was appointed as the mediator for the case.
Justice Dayal emphasized that if a settlement is reached, the parties are free to file an application before the court. He reiterated that the mediation is simply an opportunity and did not imply any judgment, stating,
“This is just an opportunity. No harm will be caused to anyone.”
Pradeep Rai had filed a criminal defamation suit, upset by articles on the AajTak website, which falsely linked him to conman Sanjay Rai Sherpuria. The articles claimed that Rai was Sherpuria’s nephew, that a Special Task Force had issued a notice to Rai for questioning, and that he was a director in several companies owned by Sherpuria.
The trial court, on July 26, had summoned Aroon Purie, Chairman of India Today Group, Kallie Purie, Vice Chairman of the group, Supriya Prasad, Managing Editor of Tak Channels, and Milind Khandekar, Managing Editor of the news network. However, this order was challenged by Aroon Purie, Kallie Purie, and the parent company TV Today Network Limited, through two petitions. These were heard by Justice Dayal, with Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar representing Aroon Purie and Pradeep Rai appearing in person.
Justice Dayal told Nayar that the news channel should have a fast response mechanism in case of misreporting, as the speed of news dissemination can quickly cause damage. He further pointed out that just as the police are expected to respond quickly, the media should be held to the same standard. The case is scheduled for further hearing in November.
Rai claimed the news articles were published without proper verification and that his photo was included, leaving no room for confusion about his identity. However, once Rai sent a legal notice to Purie, the articles were taken down.
Mr. Rai is well-known for his professional contributions to the Indian legal system, and any false claim against him, especially one that involved his personal connections and business dealings, could have severely affected his career. As a prominent figure, such accusations can lead to widespread public scrutiny, causing undue stress for both the individual and their loved ones.
In response to the situation, the platform that posted the tweet took immediate steps to retract the misinformation. The statement of apology offered a formal acknowledgment of the error and extended regret for any distress caused to Mr. Rai and his associates. The apology was clear and unambiguous, reaffirming the commitment to accuracy in future communications.
Mr. Rai, for his part, expressed his gratitude for the apology. In a brief statement, he indicated that he appreciated the acknowledgment of the mistake and was content to put the matter behind him. His professional demeanor and willingness to move forward emphasized his resilience in the face of such baseless allegations.
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