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The documentary in question is related to the 2002 Godhra riots and criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was then Gujarat Chief Minister
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a fresh notice to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on a plea by an NGO seeking damages, claiming its documentary "India: The Modi Question" casts a slur on the country's reputation and makes false and defamatory imputations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian judiciary.
Besides BBC (UK), the bench of Justice Sachin Datta also issued fresh notice to BBC (India) on the plea filed by Gujarat-based NGO 'Justice On Trial'.
During the hearing, the counsel for the NGO apprised the court that notices were issued to BBC (UK) and BBC (India) earlier but they could not be served.
Advocate Siddharth Sharma, representing the NGO, sought more time to serve the notices to the defendants.
The court posted the matter for further consideration on December 15, 2023.
As per the petitioner NGO, Justice on Trial, the BBC (India) as the local operation office and BBC (UK) released a two-episode news documentary titled “India: The Modi Question” in January 2023.
It contended that the said documentary/publication contains content that casts a slur on the reputation of the country and also makes false and defamatory imputations and insinuations against the Prime Minister of India, the Indian Judiciary, and the Indian criminal justice system.
Through the plea, the NGO sought damages of Rs 10,000 crore in its favour against the defendants on account of the “loss of reputation and goodwill caused to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, the Government of India, the Government of the State of Gujarat as it was during the period of the Gujarat Riots, and also the people of India”.
The petitioner argued for an order of damages saying that the remedy should be provisionally valued at Rs 10,000 crore for the purpose of court costs.
Case Title: Justice on Trial v. BBC (India) & Anr.
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