"No One Including Media Should Be Above Scrutiny":Newslaundry Responds to Times Group's Rs 100 Cr Defamation Suit

"It is unfortunate that an organisation like BCCL, which has had a glorious history of standing up for the press," has filed a defamation suit against a "small, independently run media outlet that has consciously chosen a revenue model that allows it to work fairly without the pressure of the 'Unofficial Editorial Line' and without the fear of losing advertisement revenue," News Laundry has said in its reply on Tuesday, opposing BCCLs prayer for ad-interim reliefs.

The Rs 100-crore defamation suit filed by BCCL in December, pertains to two videos published by News Laundry, "Toadies Banega Tu: TV Newsance Episode 107," and "Explained: How to Rig TRPs," published in October, 2020 and December 1, 2020 respectively.

In its ad-interim application, BCCL has sought directions to News Laundry to deposit Rs 100 crore with the HC and to desist from making further defamatory statements against the publication or re-telecasting the content. The final relief sought is an unconditional apology for defaming Times Now's (a publication of BCCL) anchors Navika Kumar and Rahul Shivshankar.

The petition questions the "tone and tenor" of the videos, alleging misuse of freedom of speech and expression, terming it as a malicious attempt to malign the reputation of Senior Management of BCCL.

In the first video, News Laundry is seen comparing the coverage of different times publications - Times of India and Times Now – in actor Sushant Singh Raput's death case. News Laundry has said, "Pointing out contradictions does not amount to 'Defamation' in any respect," moreover, though BCCL has not stated it, their real problem with the video is that News Laundry has juxtaposed different narratives being "served to the public" by a single organisation.

"Of the 3 mins video, 90 seconds dedicated to news clips of Times Now and approximately 20 seconds to read out Managing Director of BCCL, Vineet Jain's tweets," News Laundry has said.

It further states that their defence is the truth. The video was posted with the motive that media houses begin reporting accurate content instead of TRP driven broadcasting, without any intent to defame, however, BCCL was "unnecessarily offended."

Moreover, the grievance [against Times Now] is shared by all members of the profession, the reply states.

Standing by their executive editor Manisha Pande, the reply says that no defamatory remarks have been used for Times Now's Editor-in-chief, Rahul Shivshankar, and group editor, Navika Kumar as the comment as are "factually correct."

BCCLs primary concern with the second video is using the picture of Navika Kumar with other channel heads as the cover photo to create an impression that Times Now is also involved in illegal Acts of TRP manipulation.

News Laundry has responded by saying that they have used Kumar's picture as a matter of "routine journalistic practice." Navika Kumar has, herself, indulged in such practices on several occasions, it states, followed by examples.

During the hearing before Justice AK Menon, on Monday, News Laundry was represented senior advocate Nikhil Sakhardande and advocate Nipun Katyal, while BCCL was represented by advocate Vijay Hiremath and Swaraj Jadhav.

The case is posted for hearing on February 22 for BCCL to file its rejoinder. The suit is filed against News Laundry, its directors Prashant Sareen and Roopak Kapoor, scriptwriter Meghnad S, producer-director Aditya Varier, assistant producer Jude Weston, editor Samrendra Dash, researcher Sughosh Joshi and Manisha Pande.