Heritage foods has secured a major legal victory in its defamation battle against Sakshi Media House, with the Delhi High Court issuing a comprehensive restraining order on February 19, 2026. The court's decision marks a significant development in the dairy company's efforts to protect its reputation against what it termed "false, baseless, malicious, and defamatory publications."

Court Grants Comprehensive Relief

The Hon'ble High Court of Delhi, presided over by Justice Mini Pushkarna, granted substantial interim relief to Heritage Foods in case CS(OS) 162/2026. The court's order addresses multiple aspects of the defamation case, providing immediate protection for the company's interests.

Defamation Case Background

Heritage Foods filed the civil defamation suit seeking Rs.100 crores in damages against multiple defendants, including Jagati Publications Limited (Sakshi Telugu News Daily), Indira Television Limited (Sakshi TV), and several individual defendants. The case stems from publications dated February 14, 2026, which allegedly contained false allegations linking the company to the TTD scam.

The company argued that the defendants maliciously published content suggesting Heritage Foods had business ties with Bhole Baba Oroganic Dairy Milk Private Limited, the primary accused in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam scam involving adulterated ghee supply. Heritage Foods clarified that it has business dealings with an entirely different entity - Bhole Baba Milk Food Industries (Dholpur) Private Limited - and has never had any connection with the accused company.

Legal Proceedings and Claims

The defamation suit encompasses comprehensive legal remedies sought by Heritage Foods against the alleged false publications.

The company sought permanent and mandatory injunctions restraining defendants from publishing defamatory content, directing removal of existing false content across all platforms, and claiming substantial damages for reputational harm. The legal action also named major technology platforms including Meta Platforms Inc., X Corp., and Google LLC as defendants.

Court's Detailed Directions

The Delhi High Court issued specific directions addressing various aspects of the defamatory content and its removal. The court found that a prima facie case had been made out by Heritage Foods and that irreparable harm would be caused if interim relief was not granted.

Key directions include restraining defendants from publishing further defamatory content on any platform, directing immediate takedown of the impugned article dated February 14, 2026, from www.sakshi.com , and ordering removal of defamatory reports from Sakshi TV across various online platforms. The court also directed platform operators to remove content within 24 hours if primary defendants fail to comply.

Company's Position and Compliance

Heritage Foods emphasized its commitment to protecting its reputation and ensuring accurate information dissemination. The company noted that while Sakshi Newspaper published a clarification on page 3 following a legal notice, this was insufficient to repair the damage caused by the front-page defamatory article.

The case represents Heritage Foods' broader effort to safeguard its interests and protect stakeholders from the impact of false allegations. The company maintains that the publications were wholly unfounded and made with apparent intent to tarnish its reputation, goodwill, and credibility in the dairy industry.

Heritage foods Limited has announced the resignation of Mr. Makarand Shastri, Vice President & Head National Sales, in compliance with SEBI Listing Regulations. The resignation was submitted on February 14, 2026, with the executive citing career growth as the primary reason for his departure.

Resignation Details and Timeline

The company has formally accepted Mr. Shastri's resignation, with his relief from duties scheduled on or before March 31, 2026. As a Senior Management Personnel under Regulation 16(1)(d) of SEBI Listing Regulations, his departure requires mandatory disclosure to stock exchanges.

Regulatory Compliance

Heritage Foods Limited has notified both BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited about this senior management change. The intimation follows Regulation 30 read with Schedule III, Part A, Para A (7) of the SEBI Listing Regulations, ensuring full compliance with disclosure requirements.

Executive's Farewell Message

In his resignation email, Mr. Shastri expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided during his tenure at Heritage Foods Limited. He highlighted the learning experience in the dairy industry and praised his sales and distribution team's commitment to delivering quality products to consumers consistently. The executive mentioned moving to a bigger role with a larger group as part of his career advancement.

Transition Process

The departing Vice President has committed to ensuring a seamless transition of his responsibilities during the notice period. Heritage Foods Limited will manage the handover process to minimize any operational disruption in the national sales function. The company's leadership will coordinate the transition activities over the coming weeks.