Reuters exposé of world rent is back online after Indian court ruling According to Reuters

(Reuters) – Reuters News has returned to its website an investigation into the extortion of employees after a New Delhi court lifted an asset freeze order it issued last year.

The article, originally published on Nov. 16, 2023, and titled “How an Indian startup hacked the world,” details the origins and operations of a New Delhi-based cybersecurity company called Appin. Reuters has learned that Appin has grown from an education startup to a powerful recruitment agency that steals secrets from executives, politicians and the world's richest people.

Before publication, a group calling itself the Association of Appin Training Centers filed a lawsuit in the New Delhi district court to prevent the report from being published. In court filings, the organization says it has replaced Appin's network of educational franchises in India. He accused Reuters of destroying the reputation of these schools and their students, the news agency denied.

Asked for comment on Friday morning India time, the plaintiff's lawyer said they were not given enough time to respond, but noted that there are many steps pending between their client and Reuters. By Saturday evening Indian time, the lawyer had not responded.

A district court granted the association a preliminary injunction, then ordered Reuters to take down the article on Dec. 4, 2023. Reuters removed the report from its website while appealing the takedown order.

On October 3, 2024, the same court abandoned this law, noting that “so far, the plaintiff has not been able to demonstrate any significant case to interfere with the journalistic process.”

The case is still ongoing.