Smriti Irani, daughter not owners of Goa restaurant, says Delhi High Court

New Delhi, August 1

The Delhi High Court has held that Union Minister Smriti Irani and her daughter are neither the owners of a restaurant-cum-bar in Goa — at the centre of a controversy — nor was a licence ever issued in their favour.

After perusing the documents placed before it in a civil defamation suit filed by Irani against three Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D’Souza, Justice Mini Pushkar said statements by the Congress leaders against her and her daughter seem to be “bogus with malicious intent”.

Even the show-cause notice issued by the Government of Goa was not addressed to Irani or her family members, the high court said, adding that the three Congress leaders along with others conspired to “launch a tirade of false, scathing and belligerent personal attacks” against them.

The Congress has alleged the senior BJP leader and her daughter had links with ‘Silly Souls Café and Bar’. The high court said the statements made by the three Congress leaders were in the “nature of slander and seem to be bogus with malicious intent,” to intentionally subject Irani to a “great public ridicule” and “to injure the moral character and public image” of the minister and her daughter. — TNS

Cong leaders’ allegations bogus

The statements made by Congress leaders are in the nature of slander and seem to be bogus with malicious intent to intentionally subject Smriti Irani to a great public ridicule. Delhi High Court