The legal dispute initiated by former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir against Hindi daily newspaper Punjab Kesari and its journalists for defamation has been resolved prior to reaching a verdict in the Delhi High Court.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma concluded the case by dismissing it, as both parties had reached a settlement agreement.

"The agreement has been mutually signed by the involved parties. They affirm that the settlement was reached voluntarily, without coercion or undue influence. The court has acknowledged the settlement agreement and both parties are obligated to abide by its terms and conditions," stated the court in its order issued on March 13th.

The settlement agreement, dated March 4th, was officially documented at the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre. According to the terms of the settlement, Gambhir consented to withdraw the lawsuit and pledged not to initiate any legal action or proceedings regarding the dispute in any court.

“In view of the settlement, the present suit along with the pending application is disposed of. Decree sheet be drawn accordingly and the court fee be refunded as per the rules,” the court said.

Gambhir filed the lawsuit with the aim of preventing the newspaper and its reporters from making any statements deemed defamatory against him. In May of the previous year, another bench declined to issue any interim injunction in Gambhir's favor. However, it noted that several articles published about him suggested a deliberate effort by Punjab Kesari to damage his reputation among his constituents, supporters, and the general public.

Summons were issued to Punjab Kesari, its Editor-in-Chief Aditya Chopra, and three reporters. However, the court did not grant any takedown order or interim relief. Gambhir's lawsuit aimed to obtain an unconditional written apology from the newspaper for publishing what he deemed as "malicious and false publications" against him.

In the lawsuit filed by Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai on behalf of Gambhir, he also requested damages amounting to Rs. 2 crores from Punjab Kesari.

Gambhir filed the defamation suit over specific articles published by the newspaper dating back to 2022. These news reports include titles such as "Sansad Gautam Gambhir Lapata Gali-Gali Me Lage Poster" (Member of Parliament Gautam Gambhir's Missing Posters Found Everywhere), "Dilli ke lapata Sansad Lucknow Super Giants ke liye bane Bhasmasur" (Delhi's Missing Parliamentarian Gambhir Turns Into Bhasmasur for Lucknow Super Giants), and "Ye Naye Mijaz ke Sansad hai Jara Faaslo se Mila Karo" (This Parliamentarian of New Attitude, Meet with Caution).

Gambhir's contention was that the newspaper and its reporters deliberately published false and defamatory articles with the intention of harming his reputation.

The lawsuit asserted that despite sending a legal notice to the newspaper on November 23, 2022, instructing it to refrain from making any defamatory publications about Gambhir, no response had been received up to the present date.

Counsel for Plaintiff: Mr.Jai Anant Dehadrai, Mr.Siddharth Sharma, Mr.Md.Tasnimul Hassan and Mr.Martin G.George, Advs

Counsel for Defendants: Mr.Dhruv Chawla, Adv

Case Title: GAUTAM GAMBHIR v. PUNJAB KESARI & ORS.