No below-the-belt news, HC tells Arnab Goswami in Anil Ambani’s defamation case
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked Editor Arnab Goswami and Republic to bring down the rhetoric during his reporting about industrialist Anil Ambani. While hearing Ambani’s plea alleging defamation, Justice Milind Jadhav clarified that he was not stopping the media house from carrying any news story, although it should not have rhetoric. “Otherwise, I will pass the order. Of course, you are the fourth estate, but no adjectives which will be disparaging”, the judge clarified.
At the end of the day, disparaging remarks are insinuating below the belt. There will be nothing below the belt. Please run your stories, your stories are in fact what the nation wants to know,” the judge said.
Ambani argued that the channel’s reports on his financial transactions have caused irreparable damage to his reputation. “These are continuous, and it is like a smear campaign,” said Ambani’s lawyer, seeking a temporary injunction.
Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for Republic TV and Goswami, asked the Court for time to file a detailed reply. “Everything I have said is true and, secondly, fair comment,” said Jethmalani.
The Court, however, disagreed with the “fair comment” argument. It permitted the Republic to file its reply. “In the reply, you can say that every word that I have used is fair. But till you file a reply, refrain from using those words. Otherwise, it will not be fair,” the judge said.
The judge clarified that he is not going to stop Republic from doing stories concerning Ambani. Referring to TV media in general, he said, “Ultimately, it is the right of the public to know. This is one of the fairest medium in today’s time.”
“He is not a financial wizard; he is a financial scammer,” said Jethmalani.
Justice Jadhav reiterated that he was not stopping the media house from doing stories on the orders, but ‘without going below the belt’. “My court functions differently. In my court, suppose if ARG Outlier (Republic TV) does not listen, and today he runs a story to repeat the mistake. Then tomorrow morning, anybody can stand in line, and I will immediately step in,” the judge said.
