The Telegraph apologises to Zia Chishti for publishing allegations

LONDON: The Telegraph, Britain’s leading newspaper, has issued an apology to Pakistani-American technology entrepreneur Zia Chishti for publishing allegations that he had engaged in sexual misconduct.

In its apology on Monday, the newspaper said a series of articles it published from November 2021 to February 2023 reported on allegations made by a former employee of Afiniti, Tatiana Spottiswoode to the United States Congress, about the company’s founder and CEO, Zia Chishti. Mr Chishti strongly disputes these allegations. Although Mr Chishti sought to do so, Congress did not give him the opportunity to refute the allegations.

The Telegraph said Mr Chishti issued libel proceedings against it as to one of the articles. The High Court determined that the article had alleged that “since being introduced to Ms Spottiswoode by her father when she was thirteen and Mr Chishti was an adult, Mr Chishti groomed Ms Spottiswoode with sexual intent. Mr Chishti further pursued her with inducements and threats, culminating in a brief sexual relationship when they were adults, which on his side was abusive and violent, and which she quickly terminated”.

On March 17, 2025, The Telegraph made a statement in open court that it withdraws its earlier position that the above allegations were true and that they were made in the public interest. “The Telegraph apologises to Mr Chishti and his family for the harm they have been caused. Finally, The Telegraph has agreed to pay Mr Chishti a substantial sum by way of damages and a contribution to his legal costs.

“With these steps, The Telegraph and Mr Chishti have agreed to end the litigation between them.” Zia Chishti, whose full name is Muhammad Ziaullah Khan Chishti, fought a tough legal battle with the paper in London for over two years.

Speaking to media outside the court after winning the case, Zia Chishti said the Telegraph apology and settlement is a step in the right direction. The technology entrepreneur, accompanied by his family members and lawyers, said: “I did not commit the horrific acts Ms. Spottiswoode and The Telegraph alleged against me. These allegations have created a three-and-a-half-year ordeal that has critically hurt my family and severely damaged my reputation and business interests. The Telegraph has now withdrawn its position that the allegations it published were true and has apologised for the harm it has caused in publishing these allegations. This apology helps repair the extensive damage to me in the United Kingdom. I am now hopeful that in the United States the newly elected Congress gives me the same platform to deny the allegations against me as it gave my accuser to make the allegations.”