SC dismisses petition seeking complete ban on BBC in India
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition that sought total ban of BBC in India over its documentary on Gujarat riots.
Rejecting the petition by Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta, the court asked how a documentary can affect the country, adding that the petition is ‘entirely misconceived’.
The government had taken down the BBC’s two-part series, "India: The Modi Question”, which examined PM Modi’s leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, from public platforms last month.
Representing the petitioner, senior lawyer Pinki Anand accused the BBC of "deliberately maligning India's image".
The petitioner sought an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the "conspiracy" behind the documentary.
Alleging that the documentary is a "result of deep conspiracy against global rise of India and its Prime Minister", the petitioner added that it’s reflective of a propaganda to destroy India’s social fabric.
The judges wondered how the apex could pass such orders, adding that the petition had no merit as it was “entirely misconceived”.
Invoking emergency powers under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, the Centre on January 21 blocked the documentary on YouTube and Twitter.
Responding to the petition by journalist N Ram, activist Prashant Bhushan and Trinamool Congress MP Mohua Moitra, The apex court earlier served notice to the BJP administration.