Defamation case filed against Republic TV for PFI ‘sting’

A Delhi court has summoned Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami after Popular Front of India, or PFI, public relations director M Shamoon filed a civil defamation case against the channel, Live Law reported.

Shamoon claimed that the channel had published a doctored video of him wherein he is shown to have “promoted violent protests and use of criminal force against the state machinery” as part of a sting operation.

He further alleged that the video had led to irreparable damage to him personally as well as the nation at large, as the contents of the fabricated video had reached a worldwide audience.

The plaintiff said, “If the defendant were not in nasty intention, they could have aired the complete dialogue made between the plaintiff and the so-called sting operator. The defendant jointly acted against public morality in this incident. It is an attempt to make somebody as criminal that he would not have committed at all. It is against the public morality and decency and hence falls within the purview of Article 19 (2)."

Shamoon has sought directions towards the removal of the “defamatory video” from Republic TV’s television channel as well as their social media platforms, and the suit is valued at Rs 1.