Skip to main content
← back
InformativeDelhi High Court

Quashing of Defamation Complaint: A Battle Over Family Disputes

Court / Authority

Delhi High Court

Update / Judgement Date

28 Jun 2026

Source

WCP News Bulletin

Author

Sakshi Bhardwaj — WCP Legal Desk

Reading Time

2 min read

View Count

Criminal LawCivil LawOther Legal Matters
Quashing of Defamation Complaint: A Battle Over Family Disputes
Delhi High Court · WCP News Bulletin

Headnote

The High Court of Delhi quashed a defamation complaint filed by Ravinder Singh Gandoak against his brother-in-law, Harkirat Singh Sodhi, ruling that the statements made were either substantially true or made in good faith as part of ongoing litigation regarding property disputes. The court emphasized that the allegations did not prima facie constitute defamation under Sections 499/500 IPC, and therefore, set aside the summoning order.

Background

  1. The petitioner, Harkirat Singh Sodhi, is involved in property disputes with his brother-in-law, Ravinder Singh Gandoak.
  2. A defamation complaint was filed by Gandoak alleging wrongful and defamatory statements by Sodhi regarding forgery and property disputes.
  3. Two testamentary petitions concerning the deceased mother's will are pending adjudication.

Court’s Observations

  1. The learned Magistrate erred in summoning the petitioner; allegations were based on ongoing legal proceedings and thus protected.
  2. Statements made by the petitioner were deemed to be either true or made in good faith for protecting his interests or those of others.
  3. There was no actionable claim of defamation as the statements did not harm the complainant's reputation nor were they published to the public.

Legal Provisions Discussed

  1. Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
  2. Sections 52 and 105 of the Indian Evidence Act.

Case Details

Harkirat Singh Sodhi vs. State of NCT of Delhi & Ravinder Singh

Coram: Hon'ble Ms. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna


Full Judgement / Attachment

Full Judgement

Frequently asked questions about Delhi High Court

Where does the Delhi High Court sit and which areas does it cover?
The Delhi High Court sits in New Delhi. It has jurisdiction over the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It was established on 31 October 1966 and is a leading forum for commercial, intellectual property, tax and arbitration matters.
How do I check Delhi High Court case status and judgements?
The official website, delhihighcourt.nic.in, provides case status, cause lists, e-filing and judgements searchable by party, judge or date. Orders are also mirrored on the eCourts Judgments portal (judgments.ecourts.gov.in).
What are the Delhi High Court's Commercial and IP Divisions?
Delhi High Court has original civil jurisdiction, so high-value suits in Delhi are filed directly before it. Its Commercial Division hears commercial disputes, and its Intellectual Property Division, set up in 2021 after the IPAB was abolished, hears patent, trademark and copyright cases. It is also a major forum for tax appeals from the ITAT Delhi Benches and for arbitration petitions.
What is an LPA in the Delhi High Court?
A Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) under Clause 10 of the Letters Patent lets a party challenge certain single-judge orders, typically in writ matters, before a Division Bench. In commercial cases, appeals lie under Section 13 of the Commercial Courts Act instead. Final judgements can be challenged by a Special Leave Petition under Article 136, ordinarily within 90 days.
How can White Collar Professional help with a Delhi High Court matter?
Post your requirement on White Collar Professional to receive proposals from verified Advocates, Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries, compare them, and pay securely through the platform. This page also tracks the latest Delhi High Court judgements and legal updates as they are reported.