Accepting Unconditional Apology, Delhi High Court Discharges Arnab Goswami, Others In Contempt Case By Former TERI Chief RK Pachauri

Managing Director and Editor-in-chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami has tendered his unconditional apology before the Delhi High Court in a 2016 contempt case moved by former Executive Vice Chairman of TERI R.K. Pachauri against him and others for “fragrant and willful disobedience” of the court’s earlier orders restricting them from publishing certain claims against him. 

Goswami was with Times Now when the case was filed in 2016.

“I hereby tender my apology to this Hon'ble Court and request that this Hon'ble Court may graciously be pleased to accept the apology and close the instant proceedings against the deponent,” reads Goswami’s affidavit submitted in court on April 28.

The response further mentions that Goswami is a law abiding and a respectable citizen of the country, hold all courts in high esteem and has the highest respect for the Delhi High Court.

“I had no intention to commit any act/ omission amounting to disobedience much less, wilful disobedience of the orders of this Court. I say that the alleged broadcasts were done under the bona fide belief that the same was not prohibited in terms of order passed by this Hon'ble Court on 18.02.2015 passed in C.S. (OS) 425 of 2015. The alleged broadcasts were made as part of fair reporting in view of the liberty under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India as recognised by this court in the aforesaid order,” the response reads.

The response has been filed through Advocate Aman Avinav. 

On April 17, Goswami’s counsel Senior Advocate Malvika Trivedi had submitted before court that she will file an affidavit tendering unconditional apology on behalf of his client within one week.

During the proceedings on April 29 before Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, Trivedi handed over the copy of the affidavit to the court.

On the other hand, the counsel representing Raghav Ohri submitted that an affidavit tendering his unconditional apology had been filed, without entering into the merits of the allegations raised in the matter in order to put up a quietus to the controversy.

Justice Arora was apprised that a similar affidavit was also filed on behalf of The Economic Times.

On May 22, the court discharged Arnab Goswami, Economic Times and Raghav Ohri after accepting their written unconditional apology.

Justice Arora also dismissed the plea against Prannoy roy on merits.

”Upon a perusal of the contents of the said article, this Court is satisfied that there is no violation of the ad-interim order dated 18.02.2015. The stand of the deceased Petitioner as regards the complaint of the aggrieved person is duly reported therein. Pertinently, the content of the said article dated 14.02.2016 duly records the denial of the allegations by the deceased Petitioner. The contents of the article would fall within the realm of fair reporting. Accordingly, the present petition against Respondent no. 4 [Prannoy Roy] is dismissed,” the court said in the order which was made available today.

It added: “The present petition [contempt plea] is accordingly dismissed alongwith pending applications, if any.”

Pachauri, who expired in the year 2020, had filed the plea contending that the media houses were in contempt of two orders of the court which asked them to adhere to “journalistic norms” in reporting about the proceedings of an inquiry against him.

The plea contended that the media houses were absolutely restrained from publishing any news report or article or opinion with respect to the allegations of sexual harassment against him. Apart from Goswami, who was then an editor-in-chief of Times Now, the plea was also filed against Bennet & Coleman, The Economic Times, Raghav Ohri and Prannoy Roy.

Title: DR. RAJENDRA KUMAR PACHAURI v. INDU JAIN & ORS. 

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 443

Click Here To Read Order