Zee sues Rajat Sharma and India TV for telecasting 1993 episode of Aap Ki Adalat with Bal Thackrey

Journalist Rajat Sharma and his news channel India TV assured the Delhi High Court on Tuesday that they have removed, from all platforms, the 1993 episode of show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ with former Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackrey [Zee Media Corporation Ltd v Rajat Sharma & Anr]. .The veteran journalist and the channel also assured Justice Jyoti Singh that they will not broadcast the episode in future as well..The assurance came as Zee media – owner of news channels like Zee News and Zee Hindustan – sued Sharma and India TV for copyright infringement.In its suit, Zee has argued that during the political turmoil in Maharashtra on June 25 and June 26, India TV broadcasted a 1993 episode of ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ with Thackrey which was originally produced and telecasted by Zee TV.Zee has filed its suit through Trust Legal’s partner Ritwika Nanda and associate partner Rupali Gupta. They are being led by Joy Basu. .During the course of the hearing, Justice Singh remarked that Sharma and India TV chose the right time to air the episode (during the political crisis in Maharashtra).“You timed it well… We all know why it happened. We understand the timing and the trigger. We all understand it,” the judge said..Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi appeared for Sharma told the court that the episode has been taken down and they do not intend to use it.Sethi added that Sharma was an employee of Zee when the episode was produced and when he started his own channel, a deal was made that he would be entitled to retain the format as well as the name ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ on his own platform..However, Zee has argued that it owns the copyright for over 140 episodes the show produced between 1992-1997 therefore India TV should be injuncted from broadcasting and publishing on all platforms, the episodes aired on Zee TV..The court has now given Sethi time to obtain instructions on Zee's demand for injunction against India TV regarding all the 140 episodes of the show.Matter will now be heard on September 20.