PM Modi documentary row: Delhi HC issues summons to BBC on defamation suit
New Delhi, May 22: Delhi High Court on Monday issued summons to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in response to a defamation suit moved by a Gujarat-based Non-Government Organisation (NGO). The NGO has claimed in its lawsuit that a two-part documentary by the UK broadcaster cast a slur on the reputation of India and its judiciary as well as that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Monday, Justice Sachin Dutta's bench issued summons to defendants, including BBC, and listed them for further consideration in September month.
Senior Advocate Harish Salve appeared on behalf of the plaintiff organisation and claimed that the documentary defamed both India and the judiciary.
Recently, Delhi's Rohini court summoned the BBC, Wikimedia Foundation, and Internet Archive on a petition seeking direction restraining the defendants from publishing the BBC documentary based on PM Modi.
Binay Kumar Singh has petitioned the Rohini district court to issue an order restraining the Defendants, including their agents, from publishing the two-volume documentary series "India: The Modi Question" or any other defamatory material pertaining to the Plaintiff, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), and Vishwa HinduParishad (VHP) on the Wikimedia and Internet Archive platforms, or any other online or offline platforms.
He has also urged the Court to order them to tender an unconditional apology to the Plaintiff and to RSS and VHP for the libellous and defamatory content published in the two-volume documentary series.
According to the documentary, there are escalating tensions between India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country's Muslim minority; there is an alarming surge in hate crimes and extremist politics in India, particularly targeting the Muslim community.
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- ANI
