The High Court of Delhi on Monday issued summons to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on a defamation suit, alleging that its two-part documentary on Gujarat riots, which was released recently, ‘cast a slur’ on the reputation of India, its judiciary and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Single-Judge Bench of Justice Sachin Datta issued summons to the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom on a suit filed by Gujarat-based NGO, Justice on Trial.
The High Court further issued notice to the respondents and listed the petition for further hearing in September.
Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate Harish Salve contended that the two-part documentary titled ‘India: The Modi Question’ has defamed the whole country, including the judiciary.
Earlier on May 3, a local court in Delhi had issued summons to BBC, Wikimedia Foundation and Internet Archive on a petition seeking direction to restrain the defendants from publishing the BBC documentary based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Additional District Judge Ruchika Singla of Rohini Courts issued summons to the defendants and directed them to file their written statement within 30 days from the date of service of the summons.
Filed by BJP leader Binay Kumar Singh through social media lawyer Mukesh Sharma, the petition sought directions to the court to restrain the defendants, including their agents, from publishing the two-volume documentary series or any other defamatory material pertaining to the plaintiff, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on the platforms of Wikimedia and Internet Archive or any other online or offline platforms.
He further sought to pass a direction to the Defendants, ordering them to tender an unconditional apology to the Plaintiff as well as to RSS and VHP for the libellous and defamatory content published in the two-volume documentary series.
The plea further sought damages of Rs 10 lakh from the defendants for alleged defamation caused by the documentary because he was also associated with RSS, VHP and BJP. It was learnt that in the month of January 2023, BBC aired the two-volume documentary series India: The Modi Question.
(Case title: Justice On Trial vs British Broadcasting Corporation (India) & Anr)
The post Delhi High Court summons BBC over documentary against PM Modi appeared first on India Legal.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
Please don't enter any spam link in comment box ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon