34 Bollywood producers moves Delhi High Court to restrain TV channels

34 producers have now filed a suit in the Delhi High Court to curb irresponsible, insulting and defamatory remarks against the film industry.

The suit introduces Arnab Goswami and Pradeep Bhandari of the Republic and Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar of Times Now to conduct media trials of Bollywood celebrities and interfere with the right to privacy of Bollywood-related individuals.

The suit mentions the names of Arnab Goswami and Pradeep Bhandari of the Republic and Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar of Times Now, saying that they are running a media trial against the celebrities of Bollywood and interfering in the right of privacy of the persons associated with Bollywood.

These producers have objected to the use of words such as the so-called drug cartel being activated in the film world by these reporters in their reports following the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.  These words include Dirt, Filth, Scum, druggies and this is bollywood where dirt needs to be cleaned.

It also stated that these reporters have been punished and tortured earlier and the courts have also passed orders against them for irresponsible news and defamatory material.  It also claims that he has been convicted earlier for broadcasting false news.

The suit has alleged that these news channels have been openly flouting Program Code made under Section 5 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rule 6 of the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.

These producers have clarified that they are not requesting a complete ban on news related to the investigation of Sushant Singh Rajput case.  They only requested a permanent ban on publishing material and news violating the existing laws against Goswami, Shivshankar & Company.

By Priya Kumari