Bombay HC stays BARC order imposing Rs 5 lakh fine on India Today

Bombay High Court has stayed the order passed by the BARC disciplinary committee against TV Today and directed that no coercive action be taken subject to a deposit of Rs 5 lakh with the court – and not with BARC – and without prejudice to TV Today’s rights.

In a statement issued, the India Today Group said, “It is unfortunate that certain sections of the media are misreporting the reasons for TV Today approaching the Bombay High Court against BARC. The petition filed challenges an order passed by the BARC disciplinary committee on the grounds that it was without an appropriate quorum and without presenting the evidence, among other criteria.”

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India Today clarified that the Hansa report being shown on Republic TV has nothing to do with the case filed by TV Today against BARC. “Similarly, any mention of India Today’s name in the Hansa report is something we are completely unaware of. We are not privy to any such information, and neither has BARC informed us of this report,” the statement maintained.

India Today Group further said, “In fact, Hansa has filed a suit against Republic TV in which it has said that Hansa cannot ascertain the veracity of the document being shown on Republic TV and the broadcast of the report by Republic TV is unorganised and illegal.”

It also added, “To extricate themselves from the police investigation, R TV is using the document they are calling the Hansa report without the consent and permission of Hansa.”