‘No Defamatory Content’ Against Bollywood: Delhi HC Tells Times Now, Republic TV

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday directed news channels -Republic TV and Times Now – to ensure that no “defamatory content” is broadcast on their channels or uploaded on social media against Bollywood fraternity, reported The Indian Express.

Some biggest production houses including those of actors Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, filmmakers Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra and Farhan Akhtar had filed a lawsuit in the high court against Republic TV, Arnab Goswami and Pradeep Bhandari of the channel; and Times Now and its anchors Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar for “irresponsible reporting by certain media houses” in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

“Media can’t run a parallel trial. You’re a broadcaster… show news. There is less news and more opinion,” the court said adding that “things are being pre-judged”, NDTV reported.

“It is disheartening and demoralizing… I mean it demoralizes everyone. Today it is not hurting us (judiciary)… suppose it is your fraternity tomorrow. Surely, you can investigate but it has to be fair reportage,” the High Court told Times Now lawyer, according to The Indian Express.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher asked the media houses – AGR Outlier Media Pvt Ltd (owns Republic TV) and Bennett Coleman and Company Ltd (owns Times Now) to ensure that no defamatory content is uploaded on social media platforms or aired on TV, NDTV reported.

As per the NDTV report, the court has sought a written response in two weeks on the case and recorded assurances by the media houses to follow the Cable TV Act & Rules, and the Programme Code.

The hearing has been adjourned to December 14.