Actor Kabir Bedi’s autobiographical work, ‘I Must Tell: The High Court,’ faced a setback as the court dismissed the petition filed by his elder brother, TR Bedi, seeking to halt its publication and sale due to derogatory remarks against him.
The single-member bench, presided over by HP Sandesh, rejected TR Bedi’s petition challenging the trial court’s decision, which had refused to block Kabir Bedi’s autobiography. The High Court found no grounds to consider the appeal, citing the trial court’s reasoned rejection and the absence of merit in the appeal.
Highlighting the timeline, the court noted that TR Bedi filed the appeal nine months after the trial court’s ruling, long after the book’s publication and sale in 2021. The bench ruled against granting a stay at this stage.
TR Bedi had sought Rs 1 crore in damages and a 24% annual interest rate, alleging defamation by Kabir Bedi in the book. The trial court deemed it inappropriate to grant an interim stay given the book’s wide circulation. Instead, it ordered a comprehensive investigation into the book’s allegations to determine their veracity before considering any further action. Thus, the court declined to issue any interim orders, stating that granting one would effectively be a final decision.
