Delhi court issues summons to Times Now in defamation suit by PFI

A Delhi court has issued summons to Times Now in a civil defamation suit filed by the Popular Front of India (PFI) alleging false reporting and damage to goodwill [Popular Front of India v Times Global Broadcasting Co Ltd (Times Now) and Ors]..The order issuing summons was passed by civil judge South East Saket Court, Chitranshi Arora, and the matter has now been posted for further hearing on March 3..The plea by PFI stated that the Times Now had published a new article with the headline “RSS worker Sanjith’s murder: Kerala Police arrest PFI officer bearer” in November 2021 on its website and ran a news on the same lines where the anchor further alleged that PFI worker was arrested in connection with the said murder..The plaintiffs argued that the article/news telecast have made false and frivolous accusations against the plaintiffs with the intent to provoke the people and further to cause prejudice to their name, goodwill and image by making slanderous statements.“It is submitted that the plaintiff has no link with the persons allegedly arrested in the said RSS Workers’ murder case and the alleged persons arrested in the said case, in no manner are members/officer bearer of the plaintiff PFI nor the plaintiff has any concern or relation of whatsoever nature with the said persons… The said contention of the plaintiff that the plaintiff has no connection, concern or relation whatsoever with the alleged persons arrested in connection with the murder of RSS worker is evident from the fact that the police officials has stated that the details of suspect can not be revealed because the arrest has been made on the basis of eye witness and it could affect further investigation,” read the plaint.It added that the news reporting made by the defendants “is false, fabricated and concocted with the sole intention to malign and defame the plaintiff”.PFI, therefore sought damages to the tune of ₹1 lakh and permanent injunction restraining the news network from publishing or telecasting any news that tarnishes or defames their name.The plaintiff also sought a direction to Times Now to delete the news report from its website..Advocate Shakeel Abbas is representing the PFI.