Why is the UAE retail giant Lulu Group continuing its defamation cases despite public apologies?

Highlights:

• Lulu Group says it will not withdraw defamation cases despite public apologies.
• The company has initiated legal proceedings in Kerala, Lucknow and Delhi.
• Chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali filed a defamation suit seeking Rs 100 million in damages.
• The Delhi High Court ordered defamatory content against Yusuff Ali to be removed.
• Lulu Group says it welcomes fair criticism but will challenge deliberate misinformation.

UAE-based retail giant Lulu Group has said it will continue pursuing defamation cases filed against individuals accused of spreading false allegations about the company and its chairman, M.A. Yusuff Ali, despite public apologies issued by some of those involved.

According to Khaleej Times, V. Nandakumar, Director of Global Marketing and Communications at Lulu Group, said the company has full faith in the Indian judicial system and intends to pursue all available legal remedies. He stressed that the cases would not be withdrawn, even if the accused individuals publicly apologize.

"This is not about silencing criticism. It is about protecting the truth," Nandakumar told Khaleej Times.

The company has initiated legal proceedings in courts across Kerala, Lucknow and Delhi against individuals it believes are responsible for circulating false information and malicious allegations about the organization and its chairman.

Nandakumar said the group's position remains unchanged and that it will not consider withdrawing the cases or accepting an out-of-court settlement.

The legal action follows a defamation lawsuit filed by Yusuff Ali seeking Rs 100 million (approximately $1.1 million) in damages over alleged harm to his reputation. The Delhi High Court had earlier directed the editor of an online Malayalam news portal to remove content found to be defamatory toward the Lulu Group chairman. It also restrained the individual from making further comments about Yusuff Ali on any platform.

A separate defamation case was filed before the Ernakulam Sub Court in Kerala.

According to Khaleej Times, the individual involved in the allegations publicly apologized in late October, saying his remarks were incorrect and that he was withdrawing them. The allegations were linked to a gold smuggling case and had been published in a video in November 2020.

However, Lulu Group said the apology would not affect its legal proceedings.

"When someone claims to have recorded an apology, that is their own claim," Nandakumar said. "We will continue legally. We will not allow even a grain of false allegation against the brand or the chairman."

He also criticized the role of social media engagement in spreading unverified claims, saying likes, clicks and shares were driving such allegations and fake news.

Lulu Group says reputation is at stake

Nandakumar said the company viewed the issue as more than a commercial dispute, pointing to the livelihoods of its employees and the organization's history.

Lulu Group employs more than 75,000 people, according to the company's statement cited by Khaleej Times.

"We have built this organisation over decades on trust, integrity and hard work, and we hold these values very close to our hearts," he said. "We will always welcome fair criticism and differing opinions. But deliberate falsehoods and malicious attacks on our reputation will never go unchallenged."

The company also reiterated that it respects freedom of speech and the public's right to express opinions, question decisions and criticize its activities. However, it said it distinguishes legitimate criticism from the deliberate circulation of false allegations and misinformation.

"We have zero tolerance for any such attempts to malign the reputation of Lulu, our organisation or our Chairman," Nandakumar said.

The company's position signals that the legal proceedings will continue despite the public apology. The cases are part of Lulu Group's broader effort to defend its corporate reputation and that of its chairman through the Indian courts.