Tamil magazine Nakkheeran Today (July 21) withdrawn its plea from the Supreme Court to shift Isha Foundation’s defamation case to Madras High Court. The matter will now continue in Delhi High Court.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: The famous Tamil news magazine Nakkheeran decided to withdraw its transfer petition from the Supreme Court of India.
The petition had asked the top court to shift the defamation case filed by Isha Foundation from the Delhi High Court to the Madras High Court.
The Supreme Court Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi accepted this move and officially noted it in their order.
The Court stated:
“On the joint mentioning of counsels, the main case is taken on record. The Ld. Senior counsel submits that he may be permitted to withdraw the TP to move appropriate applications before the Delhi HC where the suit is pending raising all the objections regarding non maintainability of the suit mentioned in this TP. This TP has been dismissed as withdrawn. We have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.”
Nakkheeran, while withdrawing the transfer petition, kept its right to approach the Delhi High Court with all necessary objections. This means the legal battle is not over and may continue at the Delhi High Court itself.
This defamation suit was originally filed in December 2024 by Isha Foundation, a spiritual organisation led by Sadhguru (Jaggi Vasudev). The Foundation approached the Delhi High Court asking for the removal of certain videos and articles published by Nakkheeran, which were also shared on YouTube.
The Foundation alleged that the magazine had repeatedly made false and serious accusations, such as claims of “coercion,” “exploitation,” and “unlawful confinement” of people at the Isha Yoga Centre. These claims, Isha said, are linked to an older habeas corpus petition that was dismissed by the Supreme Court in October 2023.
That habeas corpus plea was filed by a father who claimed that his two adult daughters, aged 42 and 39, were being “brainwashed” and “illegally detained” by Isha Foundation. The case reached the top court where a bench led by then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, spoke directly with the two women.
After hearing them, the Supreme Court said:
“We had spoken to both the ladies and recorded. Both of them said that they are living there on free will and we need to close the habeas corpus plea.”
The Court dismissed the habeas corpus petition but also made it clear that this ruling would not stop police or any other government agency from doing a proper criminal investigation, if needed.
Despite the Supreme Court’s clear decision, Isha Foundation claims that Nakkheeran continued to spread harmful content suggesting illegal actions by the organisation. In the defamation case, Isha is seeking Rs 3 crore as compensation for the damage to its reputation.
Google LLC has also been added as a party in the suit for allegedly showing the disputed content on YouTube and its search engine.
During the Supreme Court hearing of the transfer petition, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Isha Foundation, told the Court:
“This man (Nakkheeran’s editor) is going on unabated. He’s saying I’m indulging in organ trade in America.”
Senior Advocate R Balasubramanian, who appeared for Nakkheeran, strongly objected to this. He said that only an interim application by Isha Foundation was being heard by the Court that day, not the main case.
The Court then advised that Nakkheeran should raise its concerns in the Delhi High Court, where the defamation case is still active.
Following this, the magazine formally withdrew its petition from the Supreme Court.
CASE TITLE:
Isha Foundation vs. Nakkheeran Publications & Ors.
&
Nakkheeran vs Google India.
Would You Like Assistance In Drafting A Legal Notice Or Complaint?
CLICK HERE
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Isha Foundation & Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Nakkheeran
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
