Read Time: 04 minutes

Additional Civil Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan of Saket Court, New Delhi, has issued summons to Republic TV, its Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and Editor Ananya Verma in a defamation suit filed by Popular Front India (PFI) alleging false reporting and damage to goodwill.

The suit refers to two news reports by the Republic TV in relation to the Darrang firing in Assam.

First, was a news article titled "Darrang Firing: 2 arrested with PFI links, accused of mobilizing crowds for protest", which was published on the website of Republic TV. Second, was Republic TV's telecast of the same news in which it was alleged "Assam violence probe: Two PFI men arrested".

The suit claims that in the said news reports/ telecasts the Republic TV have made false and frivolous accusations against the plaintiff with the intent to provoke people and to cause prejudice to the name, image and goodwill of PFI.

The plaint states that the two persons arrested, Md Asmat Ali and Md Chand Mamud are neither members of the PFI nor connected in any manner with PFI. Further it has been said that the news was telecast and published without proper enquiry and verification.

Contending that the news telecast by Republic TV was "obnoxious, vexatious, false and the channel is a blot on the face of freedom of speech and expression," PFI alleged:

"The defendants have deliberately made such libelous, defamatory and derogatory allegations with the motive to defame and malign the image of the plaintiff,"  and claimed damages to the tune of Rs. 1,00,000 along with a decree of mandatory injunction against Republic TV, thereby directing them to remove or delete the said post, telecast, and news from their website www.republicworld.com as well as their Youtube channel with the name Republic World.

The matter is listed on January 3, 2022.

Cause Title: PFI v. Republic TV