District Court Summons BBC, Wikimedia and Internet Archive in BJP Leader’s Defamation Suit

On Wednesday, District Court, Rohini issued summons to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Wikimedia Foundation, and Internet Archive in response to a defamation suit filed by BJP leader Binay Kumar Singh. 

Judge Ruchika Singla of the Additional District Court ordered the defendants to file their written statement within 30 days of the summons being served.

Kumar’s suit, filed through advocate Mukesh Sharma, alleged that the BBC documentary titled ‘India: The Modi Question’ had defamed organizations like the RSS, VHP, and the BJP. 

The suit claimed that the documentary had been released with malicious intent to defame the organizations and its millions of members and volunteers. 

It also alleged that the documentary had generated an atmosphere of terror and fear among members of various groups and had the potential to trigger violence and jeopardize public order.

The suit further stated that the content of the documentary was still available on Internet Archive and Wikipedia, despite it being banned by the Indian government. It claimed that all three defendants were acting in concert to tarnish the image of the country and its organizations.

Kumar prayed for an injunction against the defendants to restrain them from publishing the documentary or any other material against the RSS and VHP. Judge Singla will now deal with the case on May 11.