Delhi HC stays criminal defamation proceedings against Sudarshan TV, Suresh Chavhanke

The Delhi High Court has stayed proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against Sudarshan TV and its editor Suresh Chavhanke in connection with allegations that his channel had claimed that a madrasa was involved in “anti-national” activities.

The case against Chavhanke was filed by Mohammed Tufail Khan, who runs Jamia Arabia Nizami Welfare Educational Society, which is a non-governmental organisation and a madrasa that provides shelter, food and clothing to about 70 orphans, Bar and Bench reported. Khan had also named Islamic scholar Mufti Wajahat Qasmi, Sudarshan TV and the channel’s director Maya Chavhanke, the wife of Suresh Chavhanke, in his petition.

He alleged that Qasmi falsely accused his educational society of engaging in anti-national activities, receiving illicit funding and “brainwashing” children in August and September 2022, Bar and Bench reported.

Khan said that some residents, along with media personnel, entered his home in September 2022, called him a “Bangladeshi” and made his number public, which led to him getting death threats.

He alleged that Sudarshan TV broadcast defamatory programmes against his organisations and hosted another show in which derogatory accusations were made.

In its order on August 21, the High Court quoted the petitioner’s counsel as having submitted that Chavhanke is only an anchor of a TV show and there was no criminal intention on his part.

The court ordered...

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