The Calcutta High Court has barred the publication, uploading and sharing of a documentary about the alleged close ties between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani until January 31. Adani Enterprises Limited filed a Rs 50 crore defamation suit against tech entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia and others.
On Monday, the Calcutta High Court issued an order blocking the dissemination of a controversial documentary titled 'The Friendship Files: How Modi and Adani Stole India'. The film was uploaded on tech entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia's YouTube channel and other platforms on October 9.
Justice Aryak Dutt stated that the documentary is not considered a news report as it lacks substantiation from any authority. The court deemed the documentary a dramatised narrative, with its title 'insinuating theft' and narration and visuals presented as factual. However, constructive criticism or truthful reporting backed by evidence is not prohibited, the court clarified.
The original video had already been disabled, but Bhatia re-uploaded it. The court noted a 'want of good faith' in this action.
In addition to barring the dissemination, the court directed social media platforms to remove or disable access to the video at each URL listed in Adani Enterprises’ petition. They were also instructed to disable reposts, quote posts, shares, and other engagements that facilitate continued access to the video at those URLs. YouTube, X, and Instagram were ordered to preserve subscriber and registration details, as well as IP and access logs, for the accounts and URLs listed in the petition.
The court also ordered the platforms to submit, in a sealed cover within two weeks, the basic subscriber details of accounts whose owners could not be identified. The matter will be heard next on January 31.
Tech entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia responded by stating that he valued the damage to his reputation at Rs 0, contending that wealth acquired through alleged wrongdoing does not confer credibility or reputation.
Source:
Scroll.in
