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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Gujarat HC grants relief to news anchor accused in defamation, atrocities case after complaint by senior Congress leader
The Gujarat High Court on Monday granted relief to an Ahmedabad-based news anchor in a case of defamation and atrocity, filed by Congress leader Dr Tushar Chaudhary, based on the assurance of the Additional Public Prosecutor that the journalist will be served a notice of 15 days in case the investigating officer deems it appropriate to arrest her. Justice Nirzar Desai was hearing the petition by Gopi Maniar-Ghanghar, anchor of Ahmedabad-based Nirbhay News Channel, for quashing and setting aside the FIR lodged at Tapi District, based on Chaudhary's complaint under Section 356 (Defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and various sections of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Chaudhary is the newly appointed Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Gujarat Assembly. The court order stated, 'Public Prosecutor Hardik Dave has made a statement before this Court upon instructions received by the Nikita Shiroya (SC/ST Cell Tapi Vyara) that… the investigation is at very initial stage and therefore, it would serve the end of justice if this Court records the statement of learned Public Prosecutor that in case, during the course of investigation, if the investigating officer deems it appropriate to arrest the present applicant, she will be given a clear notice of fifteen days and upon receipt of the notice…' The court further said, 'The applicant would be at liberty to avail appropriate remedy so as to take remedial measure to seek relief against her proposed arrest. Such a period would start from the date of receipt of the notice by the present applicant.' Chaudhary's complaint is also against Jagdish Mehta, group editor of Rajkot-based Headlines News channel. Chaudhary has alleged that the journalists had defamed him and his deceased father, former Gujarat Chief Minister Amarsinh Chaudhary. In the FIR, the Congress MLA from Khedbrahma has alleged that in a show aired on July 22 on Nirbhay News, Ghanghar made an objectionable statement against him. He said Mehta consented to the statements, which were 'defamatory for him and the entire tribal community'. Ghanghar's advocate Utkarsh Dave said, '…Ghanghar… was the interviewer, who does not have control over what the other person is going to say… We will proceed with legal remedy in case the notice for arrest is issued.'
Indian Express
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Gujarat Congress leader files complaint against news channel editor, anchor for defamation
Former Union Minister and newly appointed Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in the Gujarat Assembly, Dr Tushar Chaudhary, has lodged a complaint of defamation and under Atrocity Act against the editor of a news channel and an anchor of another on Friday evening. Chaudhary has alleged that the journalists had defamed him and his father, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, the late Amarsinh Chaudhary. The complaint against Jagdish Mehta, group editor of Rajkot-based Headlines News channel, and Gopi Ghanghar, anchor of Ahmedabad-based Nirbhay News channel, was registered in Tapi district. The complaint was registered under Section 356 (Defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and various sections of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. In the FIR, the Congress MLA from Khedbrahma has alleged that in a show aired on July 22 on Nirbhay News, Ghanghar made an objectionable statement against him. He said Mehta consented to the statements, which were 'defamatory for him and the entire tribal community'. He said in the FIR, 'A live news debate video came to my personal assistant's mobile phone on July 22' where the statements were made. Talking to The Indian Express, Chaudhary said, 'My father and I got elected from the ST reserved seat, and we are also leaders of the tribal community. Both the accused had uttered statements defaming me, my father and my entire community, and we will not let this go.' Speaking to The Indian Express, Ghanghar said, 'Chaudhary has lodged a complaint against me and Mehta, and we are also looking into ways to respond to it legally. Till now, I have not received any call from Tapi police.' Deputy Superintendent of Police, SC/ST cell, Tapi district, Nikita Shiroya said, 'We have registered an offence against both the accused. We will first gather the original video footage of the debate so that we can determine the topic of discussion, the statements made, and the context in which they were made. Currently, we are at the stage of collecting evidence, and if necessary, we will again contact the complainant and take his statement. We are also looking for both the accused and will see what they have to say.'
