Delhi Court summons Sudarshan News MD Suresh Chavhanke, six others in defamation case

A Delhi court has recently summoned Sudarshan TV Channel and six others, including Sudarshan News' chairman/managing director (CMD) Suresh Chavhanke in a defamation case [Mohd. Tufail Khan v. Mufti Wajahat Qasmi and ors].

The defamation complaint was filed by one, Mohd Tufail Khan who runs an NGO and a Madrasa named Jamia Arabia Nizami Welfare Educational Society. Khan submitted that his society provides shelter, food and education to about 70 orphans.

In August 2022, an Islamic scholar, Mufti Wajahat Qasmi, alleged that Jamia Arabia Nizamia was indulging in anti-national activities. These allegations were then telecast on Sudarshan TV, including in interviews.

Khan then filed a criminal defamation complaint against Qasmi, Sudarshan TV and its representatives, including Chavanke, who anchored a programme with the allegations against Jamia Arabia Nizamia.

On October 19, Judge Kartik Tapariya of the Saket Court in New Delhi found the alleged acts of the accused persons prima facie defamatory.

He, therefore, summoned seven persons accused in the matter (including Qasmi, Sudarshan TV and Suresh Chavhanke) to appear before the court on January 31, 2025.

"From the material placed on record and the pre-summoning evidence led by the complainant, it prima facie appears that the tweet published by accused No.1, the act of Accused no. 2 by calling complainant ‘Bangladeshi’ in front of several people, and the interviews given by the accused No. 1, 3 and 4 are prima facie defamatory. Further, I have also seen the thumbnails as adverted to by the complainant, and watched the alleged defamatory videos. I am satisfied that there is prima facie material against the anchor i.e. Accused No. 5, News Company i.e. Accused No. 6, and the director cum editor i.e. Accused No. 7 to summon them for the offences alleged," the court said.

In his complaint, Khan accused Mufti Wajahat Qasmi of posting a false tweet on August 29, 2022, to link Khan's NGO to anti-national activities, illegal funds and brainwashing of vulnerable children.

Khan added that such false and derogatory statements were also made by Qasmi on Zee News channel on September 9 that year.

Two days before the broadcast on Zee, Khan claims that certain residents from his locality barged into his residence on September 7, 2022 along with the media and defamed him by calling him a 'Bangladeshi.' Khan added that his phone number was also circulated, on account of which he received death threats.

He claims that false and derogatory accusations against him were then telecast by Sudarshan TV in a programme aired on April 12, 2023, in a segment titled “Madrasa ke naam par bachho se bheek manga rahe hai."

Further, Khan told the court that Sudarshan News' CMD, Suresh Chavhanke and another Sudarshan News official Maya Chavhanke defamed him by organizing another TV show which was telecasted on their channel with the title “Logo ko dafanane wali jagah par banaya Dargah."

Khan had earlier approached the Delhi High Court seeking directions for the removal of defamatory allegations from online platforms.

The High Court had issued notice in the matter on March 17, 2023. During an April 2023 hearing of the matter, the Court was informed that the videos complained of on YouTube have been removed.

However, Khan was allowed to withdraw his plea from the High Court in May 2024, after which he filed the present defamation complaint.

The trial court will take up the matter next in January 2025.

[Read Order]