New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued summons to three Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Kheda and Netta D’Souza over a defamation suit filed by the Union Minister Smriti Irani and directed them to remove tweets on other posts, casting aspersions on the latter’s daughter.

The Congress leaders had accused Union Minister’s daughter of running an illegal restaurant bar in Goa, whose licence was procured illegally, they alleged and demanded the resignation of Smriti Irani.

The judge said “grave injury had been caused to the reputation of the plaintiff” with the tweets. The Congress leaders have been summoned and the next hearing has been fixed for August 18.

One must verify all the facts before leveling defamatory charges against persons holding high positions or any citizen. pic.twitter.com/swa4dgvBPT

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) July 29, 2022

Jairam Ramesh also confirmed about the same on Twitter and said they will put their version in court to counter the charges.

“The Delhi High Court has issued notice asking us to formally reply to the case filed by Smriti Irani. We look forward to presenting the facts before the court. We will challenge and disprove the spin being put out by Ms. Irani,” the Congress MP tweeted.

The Delhi High Court has issued notice asking us to formally reply to the case filed by Smriti Irani. We look forward to presenting the facts before the court. We will challenge and disprove the spin being put out by Ms. Irani.

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 29, 2022

Smriti Irani had filed Rs 2 crore defamation suit against the Congress leader for dragging her daughter into the bar row ‘without any evidence’. During the arguments in court, Smriti Irani, via her counsel, told the court that her daughter has no connection to the bar and the statements by Congress leaders were defamatory & slanderous.

Last week, the Union Minister had sent a legal notice to 3 Congress leaders as the well as the party. She demanded that Cong leaders issue an unconditional apology and also withdraw allegations against her daughter.

Congress leaders chose to dig in heels and became more blatant in pressing the charges. In a press conference, they showed a copy of what they called a showcause notice to the restaurant for ‘illegal’ operation.