‘False and frivolous accusations’: Delhi court issues summons to Republic, Arnab in PFI defamation suit

On October 28, a Delhi court issued summons to the Republic Media Network, its CEO Arnab Goswami, its writer and editor Ananya Verma, and the News Broadcasters Standards Association. The summons is in relation to a civil defamation case filed by the Popular Front of India over Republic’s news report on the Darrang firing incident which took place in Assam recently, Live Law reported.

The news report in question was published on September 27 and headlined “Darrang firing: 2 arrested with PFI links, accused of 'mobilizing crowds' for protest”. A news telecast the same day claimed, “Assam Violence Probe: 2 PFI Men Arrested...PFI Men accused of conspiracy...The police has nabbed two PFI Men Md Asmat Ali Ahmed and Md Chand Mam.”

PFI’s notice claimed Republic and others “made false and frivolous accusations against the plaintiff with the intent to provoke and further to cause prejudice to the name, goodwill and image of the plaintiff by making slanderous statements against the plaintiff.”

In its notice, PFI also said that the two accused in the Darrang firing, Mohammad Asmat Ali Ahmed and Mohammad Chand Mamud, have no connection to the organisation.

On October 8, Republic Media Network had responded to the notice maintaining that the news report “was written after necessary research and cross reference of the facts”. The letter also asked PFI to withdraw the notice.

According to Live Law, the matter will be heard on January 3.

Earlier this year, PFI’s public relations director M Shamoon had also filed a defamation suit against Republic TV for publishing a “doctored” video of him as part of a sting operation.