Delhi High Court Summons BBC: BBC to pay Rs. 10000 crores!

Delhi High Court Summons BBC: In what can only be described as a truly nightmarish situation for the self-proclaimed experts in the field of fake news, the renowned British media outlet BBC finds itself facing a daunting challenge. The Indian authorities have unequivocally voiced their dissatisfaction, declaring that they have reached their limit. Fed up with the incessant stream of baseless and derogatory content targeting India, the Delhi High Court has taken decisive action by issuing a summons to the media mogul BBC. This Delhi High Court Summons summons demands that the BBC provide a detailed explanation for their recent barrage of anti-Indian material. Failure to comply with this request will result in a hefty penalty of 10,000 crores being imposed upon them.

Delhi High Court Summons BBC

Recently, The Delhi High Court on Monday Summons notice to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on a plea by an NGO seeking damages, claiming its documentary “India: The Modi Question” casts a slur on the reputation of India and makes false and defamatory imputations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian judiciary.

Besides BBC (UK), Justice Sachin Datta also issued notice to BBC (India) on the plea filed by Gujarat-based NGO Justice On Trial. The plea said BBC (UK) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom and has released the news documentary — “India: The Modi Question” — which has two episodes and BBC (India) is its local operations office.

The petitioner has sought damages of Rs 10,000 crore in favour of the NGO and against the defendants on account of the “loss of reputation and goodwill caused to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, the Government of India, the Government of the State of Gujarat as it was during the period of the Gujarat Riots, and also the people of India”.

The documentary relates to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Modi was the state’s chief minister.

Also read: ED files FEMA case against BBC

The high court also maintained, “Issue notice to the respondents through all permissible modes,” and listed it for further hearing on September 25. The government had banned the documentary soon after it was released. Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the NGO, said the suit against the BBC is in relation to the documentary which has “defamed” India and the whole system including the judiciary.

The plaintiff organisation, which is stated to be a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and also registered as a public trust under the provisions of the Bombay Public Trust, 1950, has filed the suit for damages and has also sought permission to file as an indigent person.

Hypocrisy, thy name is BBC!

Though this decision does come as a surprise, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. BBC is that guy in school who has never aced at anything, but would love to irritate anyone, from the pupils in the class, to even the janitor in the corridor, just for fun, and then call the same as “duty to mankind”!

Only a couple of months ago, Indian tax authorities raided the BBC’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. The IT survey was carried out as a result of BBC enormous profit-diversion activities and wilful disrespect for the Transfer Pricing Rules. It’s interesting to note that the BBC has faced criticism before for falsified tax filings. According to a 2012 investigation by the public accounts committee in the United Kingdom, thousands of public employees, including those at the BBC, were not paying their taxes at the source (UK).

All of the opposition parties began protesting loudly when the Indian Tax Authority raided the office of the BBC, claiming that it was a violation of democracy. They accused the BJP and Prime Minister Modi of taking action against the BBC due to their airing of a contentious documentary.

At the same time, Adnan Sami’s tweets have also sparked a discussion on social media about whether the singer is shifting allegiances. The situation relates to the controversy around the BBC documentary and a tweet by journalist Nidhi Razdan.

Md. Zubair, the self-proclaimed fact-checker, quickly came to Razdan’s defence, comparing Adnan Sami’s two tweets and concluding that the singer had experienced a change of heart regarding the BBC. Adnan, however, responded to set the record straight, but did so in a few, well-chosen words that effectively put Md. Zubair in his place.

Also read: There is a divide between the British and the Broadcasting Corporation of BBC

However, the United States, the ally of the UK, has acknowledged the matter but has declined to comment on it.

The US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said “I couldn’t say. We’re aware of the facts of these searches, but I’m just not in a position to offer a judgement”

The British have a well-documented history of imposing their perspectives and considering themselves superior, often asserting their right to act without restraint. However, when their actions are challenged, they tend to take offense and react negatively towards the country or individual questioning them. Nevertheless, the tables have turned this time, as they have encountered a formidable adversary at an unfavorable juncture. Unlike in the past, India is determined not to let these British troublemakers escape unpunished!