Indian court issues summons to BBC in a defamation case over Modi documentary: Reports
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The documentary focused on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat during riots in 2002.
PHOTO: AFP
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NEW DELHI - India’s Delhi High Court issued a summons to British broadcaster BBC on Monday in a defamation case over its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The suit was filed on the basis that the documentary “maliciously defamed India”, said Mr Siddharth Sharma, an advocate for Gujarat-based non-profit Justice on Trial that filed the suit. He said the next hearing was set for Sept 23.
India-Britain ties have soured after the documentary and a “breach of security” incident at the Indian High Commission in March, at a time when they are struggling to make progress in free trade talks.
New Delhi reacted angrily to the documentary, India: The Modi Question, that aired in January, calling it a biased “propaganda piece”, and blocked sharing of any clips from it on social media.
Tax officials inspected offices of the BBC in Delhi and Mumbai in February, and the financial crime agency opened an investigation into the broadcaster in April for alleged violations of foreign exchange rules.
During a visit in March, British Foreign Minister James Cleverly raised the issue of tax searches at the BBC’s offices with his Indian counterpart. An Indian government source said he was told in response that “all entities in India must comply fully with relevant laws”.
The BBC said it was aware of the court case and declined to comment further. It earlier said it stood by its reporting for the documentary, which was not aired in India, and it “does not have an agenda”.
The documentary focused on Mr Modi’s leadership as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat during riots in 2002 in which at least 1,000 people were killed, most of them Muslims. Activists put the toll at more than twice that number.
Mr Modi has denied accusations that he did not do enough to stop the riots, and a Supreme Court-ordered investigation found no evidence to prosecute him. A petition seeking a fresh investigation was dismissed by the Supreme Court last year. REUTERS
