Gaurav Bhatia files ₹2 crore defamation suit against CJP leaders

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson and Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia has moved the Delhi High Court filing a ₹2 crore civil defamation suit against the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and its core leadership over circulating an allegedly fabricated quote attributed to him on social media.

The lawsuit names CJP founder and national convener Abhijeet Dipke, alongside co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, as well as the CJP itself as defendants. Bhatia seeks ₹2 crore in damages, an unconditional apology, and a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from publishing, reposting, or circulating allegedly defamatory material concerning him.

"When accusations cross their limits, then the law draws its line. A ₹2 crore defamation lawsuit," Bhatia posted on X announcing the filing. "Tomorrow, every solid argument will echo in the court. The final nail will be hammered into the coffin of lies. No social media trial. No battle of statements. Only facts, evidence, and the rule of law. The test of truth will take place where it should—in the court."

The disputed quote graphic

The controversy traces to a graphic posted on X on September 5 by Das and reposted by Ranka. The graphic falsely attributed a statement to Bhatia referring to right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj as a "dimagi naxal" (intellectual Naxal). Bhardwaj was remanded to 14-day judicial custody earlier this week by Patiala House Courts for allegedly assaulting Sanjay, the father of teenage student protester Nishu Azad, during the CJP's Jantar Mantar demonstrations.

Bhatia issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding that Das take down the graphic and tender an unconditional apology. Das deleted the post and acknowledged on X that the graphic was generated using digital tools, but declined to apologize.

"Nonetheless, I challenge any leader in the BJP to repeat this line," Das wrote after taking down the graphic.

When Bhatia publicly announced the high court lawsuit, Das fired back on social media with a caustic swipe referring to an assault on Bhatia by striking lawyers in Uttar Pradesh earlier in 2024: "Hilte dulte Greater Noida court matt poch jana! (Don't reach Greater Noida court by mistake!)"

Dipke similarly responded with mockery on X: "Might need to make a call to Soros bhai."

Plaint targets institutional commentary

Beyond the immediate quote controversy, Bhatia's plaint argues that CJP leadership has demonstrated a systematic pattern of attacking individuals and constitutional institutions.

The plea asserts that Das and Ranka did not engage in fair political commentary: "The defendant no 1 & 2 (Das and Ranka) did not merely engage in criticism, comment or disagreement with any statement actually made by the plaintiff. Rather, defendant no 1 & 2 falsely represented to the public that the plaintiff had made statements, which, in fact, he had never made."

The plaint further alleges that the defendants, operating under what it describes as an unregistered collective claiming no political affiliation, use digital reach to undermine judicial authority. Bhatia's filing highlights Das's past social media commentary on Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma regarding the Delhi excise policy proceedings, as well as remarks concerning the prolonged incarceration of activist Umar Khalid.

"The Defendant No. 1 (Das), while holding himself out as Chief Spokesperson/Co-convenor of an unregistered collective, has chosen to publicly celebrate and endorse an individual facing serious criminal allegations by declaring the judicial process itself to be permanently stained, thereby demonstrating a propensity to use social-media platforms for institutional denigration," the petition states.

What we can verify

• Filing in Delhi High Court: Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia has filed a civil suit seeking ₹2 crore in damages and a permanent injunction against the CJP, Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka. — LiveLaw, The Times of India
• Originating dispute: The lawsuit arises from a graphic published on September 5 attributing statements to Bhatia regarding Swatantra Bhardwaj. Das deleted the post after Bhatia's 24-hour warning, admitting the quote was falsely generated, but refused to tender an apology. — Hindustan Times
• Responses on record: Das publicly taunted Bhatia regarding the Greater Noida court incident; Dipke posted a sarcastic quip about contacting George Soros. — Times Now
• Judicial allegations in plaint: The suit cites social media statements concerning judicial officers and pending criminal trials to argue institutional disparagement. — LiveLaw

What remains unverified

• Court findings: The allegations in the plaint represent assertions by the plaintiff; the Delhi High Court has not yet issued substantive findings or an interim order on the plea. — [unverified]