[LIVE UPDATES] SC Hearing On Plea Against Sudarshan TV's 'UPSC Jihad' Show

Divan: Is it frivolous ? No. Can it be contested ? Yes. Zakat Foundation USA is not the same that funds the Indian one. Medina Trust could be different name. A responsible journalist must entertain the response, contest it or agree its wrong.

Divan: Suppose there was a pre-publication ban before the episode, my answer is that the public may have lost out on a large piece of information that he made an effort to collate. 

Divan: The Medina Trust is completely different because Medina is a common name. A responsible journalist must be open to counter and change. When facts-based journalism is projected, primarily in Episode 2. 

Divan: I believe this is not just a rant without facts. The facts have been investigated, they have been collated. I believe under my fundamental right to speech and expression, I am entitled to project these to the TV media. 

Justice Chandrachud notices that Justice Joseph is not on the screen.

Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta notes that he is still present on the screen.

Divan: Justice Joseph, did we lose you for some time or should I continue ?

Divan lists the groups (allegedly pro-Pak groups) which formed the source of exorbitant funding for the Foundation.

He also lists the amount which has been donated and quotes articles to back the investigation. 

Divan submits that the founder of Zakat Foundation, Syed Zafar Mahmood, had been approached to place his side of the story. He says that the same exhibits Chavhanke’s attempt to bring forth both the sides of the story. 

Divan: Our channel endeavoured to expose anti-national activities and the manner in which some persons are being recruited in All India Civil

Service under a design to induct persons with the financial support of international fundamentalists to achieve their oblique motives.

Divan: The thrust of the programme is that there is a conspiracy. Nowhere does it say that members of a certain community should not join Civil Services. Funds from a tainted organisation are being obtained to infiltrate the bureaucracy. 

Divan refers to the Affidavit and how Zakat Foundation is attempting to fund students applying for the Civil Services and there is no knowledge of the source of funding.