New Delhi: Businessman Anil Ambani has sued NDTV for defamation over the media house’s reporting of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) case against Ambani’s companies.While hearing Ambani’s petition, the Delhi high court on Thursday (May 7) issued a notice to NDTV along with its CEO and editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal, reported Bar and Bench.Ambani’s counsel told the high court that the Adani Group, which is the majority shareholder of NDTV, wants to take over Ambani’s companies.Ambani has also said that NDTV has published 72 pointed articles against Ambani in the last few months to facilitate its ultimate owners’ “predatory strategies” and every time a person is arrested in relation to the cases filed against Reliance, NDTV names Ambani.After hearing the matter, Justice Subramonium Prasad asked NDTV to respond to Ambani’s plea for interim injunction against the publication of the allegedly defamatory news reports and listed the matter for further proceedings on July 18.Ambani has also sought damages over Rs 2 crore from NDTV, that he has said will be donated to charity.The defamation suit, filed through advocate Hasan Murtaza also names IANS (the wire service also owned by the Adani Group), Manoranjan Bharti (NDTV Managing Editor), Tamanna Inamdar (NDTV Profit Managing Editor) and Ashish Manchanda (IANS Editor) as defendants.“The Plaintiff states that the ultimate owners of Defendant Nos. 1 – 3 [NDTV, NDTV Convergence and IANS] have launched a deliberate, targeted, and relentless smear campaign against the Plaintiff, so as to derive unjust gains by injuring the Plaintiff’s reputation, goodwill, and well-being, as well as the reputation and goodwill of the Reliance ADA Group,” says the suit.Ambani has also alleged that by trying to cause panic in the markets, adversely influencing public perception of Reliance Power and Reliance Infrastructure, and manipulating market sentiment, NDTV is serving the Adani Group’s vested interests.“There have been 72 pointed publications against me. Every time a person is arrested… I am distinct from the entity [Reliance], and the persons being arrested belong to that entity,” said advocate Shri Venkatesh, who appeared for Ambani.After hearing the matter, Justice Prasad said that since the matter involves Article 19 (freedom of speech) rights and, he will issue notice to the media house before considering the plea for interim injunction.