Mumbai Court Orders Interim Relief in Defamation Suit Involving Sayani Gupta
In a significant legal development, the Mumbai City Civil Court has issued an interim order restraining the publication of defamatory content against actress and filmmaker Sayani Gupta. This order is related to the ongoing controversy surrounding her short film ‘Aasmani’. The case, titled Sayani Gupta v. Vinita Negi & Ors., was presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Shudhirkumar Murlidharrao Bukke.
On Thursday, the court allowed Gupta’s application seeking interim relief in her ₹9 crore defamation suit filed against filmmaker Vinita Negi. Gupta’s legal action was prompted by Negi’s allegations of plagiarism, claiming that Gupta’s film ‘Aasmani’ borrowed key elements from Negi’s unfinished documentary ‘Prabha’.
The interim order restricts Negi and other involved parties from disseminating defamatory material against Gupta. It also mandates the removal of such content from platforms owned by defendants, including Meta, Reddit, and the Deccan Chronicle. However, the court emphasized that this order does not equate to a blanket prohibition on publishing information that is truthful.
Judge Bukke noted, “Defendant No. 1 (Negi) retains the right to pursue legal action against the plaintiff (Gupta) and may publish content based on verified facts. This order does not prevent defendants from disseminating accurate information derived from official investigations or judicial findings.” The court explicitly rejected the request for a blanket ban on publishing verified information.
The legal dispute stems from Negi’s accusations against Gupta, an FTII alumna, alleging plagiarism, copyright infringement, and breach of trust. Gupta has refuted these claims, labeling them as false and misleading. She contends that Negi’s allegations have been circulated despite the pending status of Negi’s complaint with the Screenwriters Association.
Gupta’s defamation suit asserts that the allegations have been magnified by media coverage and social media platforms, resulting in professional damage, including the withdrawal of ‘Aasmani’ from the Indian Film Festival of New Zealand.
In her lawsuit, Gupta seeks ₹9 crore in damages, the removal of defamatory content, a public retraction, and an apology from Negi. She also requested the appointment of a court receiver to confiscate copies or devices containing defamatory material. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 12.
Advocates Monil Punjabi, Priyanka Sinha, Bhavya Shah, and Mujtaba Ambekar from A&P Partners represented Gupta. Negi’s defense was handled by Advocates Sayali Shinde and Laxmi Jenkins.
As this high-profile case continues to unfold, it will be closely watched by the legal and entertainment industries alike.
