Bombay HC: Fashion Tech Business Co-Founder Ankiti Bose Files Defamation Case Against M Murthy, Seeks ₹820 Crores

Ankiti Bose, co-founder of Singapore-based fashion tech business Zilingo, has filed a defamation case against Pinstorm founder and Indian marketer Mahesh Murthy, seeking ₹820 crores in damages for allegedly defamatory remarks he made against her in an article he wrote.

Bose was suspended as Zilingo’s CEO in March 2022, amid an investigation into the company’s financial problems. Following her suspension, Bose alleged that efforts were being made to remove her from the company, which had gone bankrupt in January.

It was around this time that Murthy wrote From Vulture Capital to Victim Capital: Mahesh Murthy’s Take on VCs in India, an article which was published in Outlook Business Magazine.

On April 20, Bose filed a defamation suit in the Bombay High Court in response to the article’s comments.

Bose has accused Murthy of making defamatory and incorrect statements against her in his article. She further alleged that Murthy shared the article on his LinkedIn page and Twitter account as part of a vendetta against her.

Bose claimed that Outlook and Murthy had harmed her name, reputation, and standing in the eyes of the public. As a result, she has sought damages of ₹820 crores.

The suit also seeks a permanent injunction barring Murthy from publishing or writing anything defamatory against Bose. An order to delete and remove any article, tweet, or essay posted against her on any internet site is also requested.

The suit has been filed through Singhania & Co LLP.