Delhi Court Issues Summons To Times Now In Defamation Suit By Popular Front Of India

A Delhi Court on Saturday issued summons in a civil defamation suit filed by Popular Front of India against Times Now news channel and others over publication of a news alleging that an office-bearer of PFI has been arrested by the Kerala Police in the alleged murder of a RSS worker S Sanjith.

Civil Judge Chitranshi Arora has issued summons in the suit while posting the matter for further hearing on March 5. Other defendants who have been summoned are Times Now's anchor Parnesh Kumar Roy, News Broadcasters Standards Association, Facebook India and Twitter India.

In the suit, it has been alleged that Roy, in the said news telecast, had made false and frivolous accusations against PFI with an intent to provoke people and to cause prejudice to its name and goodwill.

"The defendant no.1 and 2 published a news articles and telecasted a video on Youtube, wherein has made false and frivolous allegations against the plaintiff alleging that the PFI Office bearer has been arrested in connection with the murder of RSS Worker S. Sanjith, which is otherwise false, frivolous, baseless and also made without any evidence and further without verifying the correct facts," the suit reads.

It has further been stated that the said news has been continuously telecasted and circulated on social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter.

Furthermore, PFI has asserted that it has no link with the persons allegedly arrested in the RSS Worker's murder case and that they were in no manner members or the office bearer of PFI. However, it has been stated that Times Now, without any proper enquiry and verification of the facts, telecasted "false and frivolous news with the sole motive to defame PFI and further to spread hatred against it."

"Such kind of news article/telecast and activities of the defendants no.1 and 2 are clearly established the professional misconduct. Such an establishment is a clear blot on the face of freedom of speech and expression by the defendant no.1 and 2 is a real shame on their part. The plaintiff is a registered organization and having its aims and objectives for the betterment of the weaker section of the society, which clearly is an ardent patriot and nationalist, which has advocated secularism," the suit adds.

PFI has thus prayed for a decree of Rs. 1 lakhs from Times Now and Roy for defamation by way of telecasting an allegedly defamatory and derogatory news. A decree of permanent injunction has also been sought against them thereby restraining them or any other person on their behalf, from further defaming PFI by publishing or telecasting any such news in their news channel.

A decree of mandatory injunction is also sought by PFI for removal of the said news post in question from their website as well as YouTube channel, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Decree of mandatory Injunction is also sought for directing NBSA to take appropriate action against the Times Now and Roy for violation of the Code by "admonishing their news channel."

The suit has been filed through Advocate Shakeel Abbas.

Case Title: PFI v. TIMES GLOBAL BROADCASTING CO LTD. (TIMES NOW) AND ORS.