Republic TV Chief Editor Arnab Goswami
Delhi Court summons Arnab Goswami in defamation case by PFI
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In a defamation case filed by Popular Front of India over a news report concerning Assam's Darrang firing incident recently, a Delhi Court on Thursday issued summons to Republic Media, Arnab Goswami, its chief editor working with the channel and News Broadcasters Standards Association.
Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan issued a summons on the suit and ordered to send the same as speed post and registered AD.
Popular Front of India, in the suit, mentions a news article titled "Darrang firing: 2 with PFI links arrested, accused of 'mobilizing crowds' for protest" along with a news telecast dated September 27 with the heading "Assam Violence Probe : 2 PFI Men Arrested...... PFI Men accused of conspiracy... The police has nabbed two PFI Men Md Asmat Ali Ahmed and Md Chand Mamud" reported by the channel.
According to PFI, the said reports were baseless and were made without any evidence, without verifying the correct facts. It has also clarified that the two persons mentioned in the news telecast were in no manner members of PFI.
The organisation said that the channel made false and frivolous accusations against the organization "with the intent to provoke the people and further to cause prejudice to its name goodwill and image by making slanderous statements."
Stating that it strongly condemns the 'irresponsible reporting' by Republic TV, PFI also contended that such defamatory post still circulating and viewed by the public at large is causing continuous damage to its goodwill, image and reputation.
The suit also states that while a legal notice was sent by PFI to the channel to tender an unconditional apology in writing, a false and evasive reply was received by them.
The suit also prays for a decree of permanent injunction against the defendants for restraining them from further tarnishing or defaming PFI by way of publishing or telecasting any such news on their news channel.
The petition also seeks a decree of mandatory injunction directing the NBSA to take appropriate action for violation of the Code.
The matter will now be considered on January 3.
