The Delhi High Court has issued a fresh notice to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on a plea seeking damages over the documentary titled “India: The Modi Question.” The plea, filed by Gujarat-based NGO Justice On Trial, claims that the documentary casts a slur on India’s reputation. The high court had previously issued notices to both BBC (UK) and BBC (India), but they could not be served.
Advocate Siddharth Sharma, representing the NGO, requested more time to serve the notices to the defendants, and the high court granted the request, ordering the issuance of fresh notices through all permissible modes. The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on December 15.
The plea, filed in May, highlighted that BBC (UK) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom and had released the news documentary, “India: The Modi Question,” consisting of two episodes, with BBC (India) serving as its local operations office. These episodes were published in January 2023.
According to the plea, the documentary contains “disparaging and defamatory” statements that have caused significant harm to the reputation and goodwill of the Prime Minister of India, the Government of India, the Government of the State of Gujarat, and the people of India.
The BBC documentary focuses on the 2002 Gujarat riots, a period when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of the state. Following its release, the documentary was banned by the Modi government. The petitioner is seeking damages of ₹10,000 crore (approximately $1.35 billion) in favor of the NGO and against the defendants. These damages are sought due to the alleged “loss of reputation and goodwill” incurred by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, the Government of India, the Government of the State of Gujarat during the Gujarat Riots, and the people of India as a result of the documentary’s content.
The case underscores the complex issues surrounding freedom of the press, the right to criticize public figures, and the legal boundaries of defamation in a digital age where media reaches a global audience. As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of this case will be closely watched not only in India but also in the broader context of media freedom and accountability.
