"Completely Misconceived": Supreme Court Dismisses Hindu Sena's Plea Seeking Ban On BBC From Operating In India

The Supreme today dismissed a plea filed by the President of Hindu Sena seeking a complete ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and BBC India from operating from Indian territory.

“The Writ Petition is completely misconceived and has no merit. Dismissed ”, said a Bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice MM Sundresh.

“Completely misconceived. How can this be argued”, said Bench to Senior Advocate Pinky Anand who appeared on behalf of the Petitioners.

The petition was filed by Vishnu Gupta, President of the Hindu Sena and one Beerendra Kumar Singh has prayed for directions to the National Investigation Agency to initiate an investigation against the anti-India and anti-Indian Government reporting / documentary films /short films including its employee journalist in India.

As per the petitioners, the cause of action arose when the BBC released and aired its controversial documentary film regarding the Gujarat riots in 2022. The plea alleges that the BBC deliberately sought to air the controversial documentary to attack the national and social integration of India.

The plea says that the officers of the British Broadcasting Corporations who are responsible for the documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and anti-India reports should be prosecuted as per Indian law after having a thorough investigation by the National Investigating Agency.

The petitioner has alleged that the agenda of anti-India international lobby is to damage the international, growing image of India and its leader Narendra Modi. “…the recently BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is result of deep conspiracy against global rise of India and its Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi”, the plea read.

It was stated that the Supreme Court has given a quietus to the cases relating to the Gujarat Violence of 2002 as no evidence was found to show the attacks were either inspired or instigated by any Minister of State of Gujarat.

“It is pertinent to mention that this Hon'ble Court has given quietus to the cases relating to Gujarat Violence of 2002 as no evidence was found to show the attacks were either inspire or instigated by any Minister of State of Gujarat. It is relevant to mention that even the Nanavati Commission Report on 2020 Gujarat Violence has given categorical finding about no evidence to connect any Minister of the Gujarat Government with the violence”, the plea read.

It was alleged that BBC has been indulging in anti-India and anti-Indian Government propaganda in post-independent regime India. The petitioner has stated that false and malicious cold propaganda against India is an attack on the sovereignty of India in the name of journalism.

Cause Title- Vishnu Gupta & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.