Delhi HC Summons BBC In Modi Documentary Defamation Case

NEW DELHI: In a defamation case, the Delhi High Court summoned the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), alleging that its two-part documentary "India: The Modi Question" was defamatory to India, her judiciary, and its Prime Minister. Along with the BBC (UK), Justice Sachin Datta also served notice on the BBC (India) requesting that it respond to the lawsuit brought by Gujarat-based NGO Justice for Trial.

According to the complaint, BBC (India) is the local operation office, and BBC (UK) has published the two-part documentary "India: The Modi Question."

Binay Kumar Singh has requested that the Rohini district court issue an order preventing the defendants, including their agents, from continuing to publish the two-volume documentary series "India: The Modi Question" or any other disparaging content relating to the plaintiff, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), and the Vishwa HinduParishad (VHP) on the platforms of Wikimedia and the Internet Archive, as well as any other online or offline platforms.

For the NGO, senior attorney Harish Salve claimed that the BBC is being sued for defamation in connection with a programme that "defamed" India and its entire system, including the judiciary. He argued that the documentary also implies negative things about the prime minister.

The high court said, “Issue notice to the respondents through all permissible modes” and listed it for further hearing on September 15.

Additionally, he has requested that the defendants be given instructions to unconditionally apologise to the plaintiff, RSS, and VHP for the libellous and defamatory material that was released in the two-volume documentary series.

Since airing the documentary, the BBC has come under fire. The British broadcaster's headquarters in Delhi and Mumbai had already been inspected by the Income Tax agency just one month after the publication. According to the tax division, BBC's income in India did not correspond to the size of its operations there.

The Enforcement Directorate filed a prosecution against BBC India last month for breaking foreign exchange laws. After closely examining the overseas remittances of the British broadcaster's India division, the federal agency filed an overseas Exchange Management Act complaint against the media corporation.

The two-part documentary series "India: The Modi Question" had its broadcast on the BBC in January 2023. According to the BBC's documentary, there are growing tensions between Prime Minister Modi and the Muslim minority in the nation as well as an alarming increase in hate crimes and radical politics in India that specifically target the Muslims.

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