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ARG Outlier Media Pvt. Ltd, the parent company of news channel Republic TV has filed a defamation complaint before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House courts against Times Now anchor Navika Kumar for making allegedly defamatory statements against Republic TV in connection with the Whatsapp chats related to TRP scam. (ARG Outlier Media Pvt. Ltd vs Navika Kumar)
Republic TV has taken exception to the statements made by Kumar on January 18, 2021 on her show, Newshour relating to Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami's Whatsapp chats, which the channel claimed were distorted and misconstrued.
Kumar spewed reckless and grossly defamatory material and telecast the same on TV and published them on the internet, the plea has alleged.
The complaint states that in an attempt to colour the minds of the public, Kumar accused the complainant of "building its success" on "TRP manipulation".
"By misusing, misconstruing and distorting the documents from the Mumbai Police's chargesheet in the TRP Scam, mainly the WhatsApp Chats, and without regard to the matter being sub judice both before the lower courts at Mumbai and the Hon'ble Bombay High Court, the Accused Person has gone on a reckless spree to spew grossly defamatory material mentioned below that has been telecast, published, circulated and disseminated on the TV Channel Times Now as well as the internet in various portal such as the Youtube," the complaint states.
The petition has further submitted that Goswami used to head the Times Now channel before he left the organisation to start his venture, Republic TV which then became the top English news channel in the country.
It is also pointed out that Kumar made "rabid and unfounded claims" accusing Republic Media Network’s founder, Arnab Goswami, of "endangering national security" and "leaking state secrets".
Kumar, the plea alleges, is jealous and the defamatory content aired by her was a consequence of such professional jealousy.
"The Accused, currently still part of the company Times Now. The said fact is in itself enough to show the motive of the Accused Persons to unnecessarily defame the Editor in chief of the Complainant company and in turn to impact the reputation of the Complainant company. It is in fact for the reason that the Complainant company in itself has now gathered attraction that the Accused is jealous and the lack of ability of the Accused to match the success of the Complainant company, has caused this defamatory show to be aired," it has been submitted.
Although Article 19 (a) of the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression but clause 2 puts an embargo on derogatory speech, it is argued.
The complaint has been filed through Advocate Ayush Jindal.