MEDICOVER STATEMENT

Medicover Hospitals, India welcomes the order passed by the Hon’ble High Court for the State of Telangana on 16 October 2026, granting interim protection against defamatory publications concerning Medicover Hospitals.

Upon examining the publications placed before it, the Hon’ble High Court observed that the impugned content prima facie satisfied the test of defamation and contained descriptions that were injurious and derogatory to Medicover’s standing as a reputed hospital in Telangana. The Court further observed that such publications had the potential to cause serious damage to the hospital’s reputation, while creating fear, panic and anxiety among existing patients and deterring prospective patients from seeking care.

The Court specifically noted the defamatory nature of the descriptions used in the publications and observed that there was a direct nexus between the content and Medicover Hospitals, which had been specifically identified in the articles. Recognising the urgency of addressing defamatory material in an age where digital dissemination can rapidly amplify its reach and impact, the Hon’ble High Court granted interim protection.

Accordingly, the Hon’ble High Court has restrained the respondents, including Mr. Manne Krishank, Mr. Harish Reddy, Mr. Shankar Goud, and the respondent media houses, intermediaries and other parties concerned, from publishing or further publishing any content that is defamatory of the petitioner, derogatory to its standing, or of a similar nature or effect to the content already published and placed before the Court. The order will remain in force until the respondents present their case or until further orders, whichever is later.

The arguments on behalf of Sahrudaya Health Care Private Limited (Medicover Hospitals) were led by Senior Counsels Mr. S. Ravi and Mr. Krishna Grandhi, assisted by Khaitan & Co. LLP, Hyderabad, through its counsels Mr. Shabbeer Ahmed, Mr. Aneesh Vempati, Mr. Vinamra Gogia and Mr. P. Vinay Kumar.

Medicover believes that public discourse, including political commentary and media reporting, must be guided by responsibility, fairness and regard for factual accuracy. While freedom of expression and a free press are fundamental to a democratic society, publications concerning healthcare institutions carry particular significance because of their potential to affect patients’ confidence, the well-being of their families and decisions relating to medical care.

Medicover will continue to protect its reputation and the trust placed in it by its patients through lawful means. The organisation respects the judicial process and will pursue the proceedings in accordance with law, while remaining firmly focused on its primary commitment: providing quality healthcare with professionalism, integrity and patient well-being at the forefront. Medicover remains committed to its patients, the highest standards of healthcare and the trust that patients and their families place in the institution.