The Supreme Court has intervened in the protracted public and legal battle between Karnataka's prominent Indian Police Service (IPS) officer D. Roopa Moudgil and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Rohini Sindhuri. On Friday, the apex court referred their ongoing defamation dispute to mediation, appointing former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph to oversee the process.
Court Expresses Concern Over Career Damage
A bench comprising Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Sanjeev Sachdeva emphasized that the continuing feud was significantly harming both officers' careers. The court expressed its view that mediation would offer a more constructive resolution than prolonged litigation, which has spanned over three years and involved multiple lower court proceedings.
“Both of them are destroying each other’s careers. In the present case, this court is of the opinion that the matter can be resolved by way of mediation,” the bench stated, directing both officers to appear before Justice Joseph.
History of the Bitter Dispute
The high-profile dispute first gained public attention in February 2023 when Ms. Moudgil allegedly made a series of allegations against Ms. Sindhuri through social media posts, including claims related to the construction of a bungalow and non-disclosure in property returns. Ms. Sindhuri vehemently denied these accusations, accusing Ms. Moudgil of orchestrating a false and personal vilification campaign.
This led to Ms. Sindhuri filing a civil defamation suit seeking a perpetual injunction, a private criminal complaint under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, and damages amounting to ₹1 crore for alleged loss of reputation and mental agony. She also sought an unconditional written apology.
Legal Journey and Previous Attempts at Settlement
The legal saga has seen numerous twists, including Ms. Sindhuri challenging criminal defamation proceedings initiated by Ms. Moudgil. The Karnataka High Court, in February, had dismissed Ms. Sindhuri’s petition, upholding a trial court’s order to take cognisance of Ms. Moudgil’s complaint. The High Court observed that the question of good faith or public good behind the statements was a matter for trial.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had granted the officers time to explore an amicable settlement and had even directed Ms. Moudgil to remove social media posts concerning Ms. Sindhuri. In an affidavit, Ms. Moudgil confirmed taking down all relevant posts. However, these efforts did not result in a settlement, leading to a fresh criminal complaint by Ms. Moudgil in December 2024, alleging derogatory remarks from Ms. Sindhuri. With both sides continuing to pursue legal action, the Supreme Court has now decisively referred the matter to mediation, simultaneously staying further proceedings in lower courts to facilitate the resolution process.