Delhi High Court Issues Summons In Former Tihar Jail Officer's Defamation Suit Against 'Black Warrant' Authors

The Delhi High Court has issued notice in a defamation suit filed by former Tihar Jail officer L.P. Nirmal against author and former Tihar jailer Sunil Gupta and others over the book 'Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer'. Nirmal claims the book falsely links him to an inmate escape that never occurred.

Justice Subramonium Prasad issued summons in the suit on May 29. The Court did not grant any ex parte interim relief and has listed Nirmal's injunction application for hearing on August 4, 2026.

Nirmal, who served as Deputy Superintendent of Jail No. 4 at Tihar Jail, has alleged that the book maligns and defames him. According to the suit, the book claims that certain inmates escaped from the prison owing to his negligence while he was posted there. Nirmal has maintained that no such incident ever took place.

The former jail officer has further stated that he learnt of the allegations only after being informed by friends residing in India and abroad. He has contended that no departmental inquiry was ever initiated against him and that the alleged escape incident itself never occurred.

The Court directed the defendants to file their written statements in accordance with the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018. The suit has been listed before the Joint Registrar on August 24, 2026.

In the suit, Nirmal has sought a permanent injunction restraining the publication, sale, circulation and dissemination of the book, its audiobook version and a related interview. He has also sought directions for the removal and blocking of content allegedly containing defamatory statements across various platforms. These include YouTube, Lallantop, Lotus Collection and Audible.

Nirmal has additionally sought rendition of accounts to ascertain the revenue earned from the publication and dissemination of the allegedly defamatory content. He has also sought other consequential reliefs from the Court.

While issuing notice in the injunction application, the Court directed that replies be filed within four weeks of service. Rejoinders, if any, are to be filed within three weeks thereafter. The application will be taken up for hearing on August 4, 2026.