Newslaundry, Confluence Media move Delhi High Court with defamation case against Kerala-based Karma News
Digital news platforms Newslaundry and Confluence Media have filed a defamation case in the Delhi High Court against a Kerala-based news platform called Karma News for calling them ‘Khalistani terrorists’ and alleging that they are associated with the Popular Front of India (PFI).
The plaintiffs have said that they had partnered with another news platform, The News Minute, and the Kerala Media Academy in Kochi to host a media event by the name of "Cutting South 2023".
However, even as the event was going on, Karma News launched a “campaign of misinformation" and did series of stories against the event, the suit stated.
Karma News alleged that the plaintiffs intended to divide India with the help of China, that the event was part of a larger terrorist movement, that crores of rupees have landed in Kochi through hawala transactions and that the event organisers are ‘Khalistani terrorists’, the Court has been told.
When the matter came up for hearing before a bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri today, counsel appearing for Karma News said that it was not the only platform to carry the news and the same has been reported by Janmbhumi [a newspaper associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)].
She further said that Karma News will not carry any report or telecast containing such allegations till the next date of the hearing in the matter.
The Court recorded the statement and issued notice to Karma News as well as YouTube. The matter will now be considered in August.
In their suit, Newslaundry and Confluence Media had argued that the name "Cutting South 2023" does not imply their intention to divide anything. Instead, it is coined from the usage of 'Cutting Chai', which implies a tea with added flavours, and is meant to be connote a sense of nostalgia, familiarity, truth and comfort. It also comes from the well-known phrase "cutting edge", the suit contended.
“It is the respectful submission that the aforesaid statements and allegations of the Defendant No. 1 which have been made maliciously and lack any truth therein, can have a catastrophic effect on the Plaintiffs. Such allegations are eroding the goodwill and reputation that the Plaintiffs has earned over a considerable period of time, not only amongst the present and future employees but the public at large, especially its viewers.”
The plaintiffs have sought an injunction order against Karma News, as well as a written apology and ₹2 crore in damages.
Advocate Bani Diskhit argued the case for the plaintiffs. The suit has been filed through Advocates Uddav Khanna and Krishan Kumar.