Kerala High Court Issues Notice To Centre On Plea Alleging Misuse Of Broadcasting License Of 'Reporter TV' Channel

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued notice and directed the standing counsel to get instructions in the matter.

The petition is filed by Sabu M Jacob, Managing Director of Kitex Garments Ltd. and President of the political party Twenty20 seeking a direction to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to act on a representation submitted by him on February 2, 2026 alleging misuse of license granted to Reporter TV news channel.

He has requested the Ministry to initiate proceedings under the Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Satellite Television Channels in India, 2022.

According to the petition, the broadcast licence for Reporter TV was originally granted to Indo-Asian News Channel Private Limited. It is contended that attempts were made in 2023 to alter the company's shareholding structure.

It is submitted that K.J. Jose, Managing Director of Reporter Broadcasting company, and V.V. Saju, Shareholder of the company sought to acquire the controlling stake of the Indo-Asian News Channel Pvt. Ltd.  The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) denied security clearance for the proposed appointment of directors and the change in shareholding pattern on grounds linked to national security.

Following the rejection, the control and operation of the channel were effectively transferred to another entity, Reporter Broadcasting Company Private Limited, without prior approval from the Ministry, which is in contravention of the Broadcasting Guidelines, it is alleged.

The guidelines prohibit any substantive change in ownership or control, or the contracting out of core operations of a television channel, without prior government permission, the petition states. The guidelines also empower the Centre to suspend or cancel a licence in public interest or national security, the plea adds.

The petition further relies on documents including a trademark assignment executed in January 2023, under which rights in the “Reporter” mark were allegedly transferred from M.V. Nikesh Kumar, Managing Director of Indo-Asian News Channel Pvt. Ltd. to K.J. Jose. 

It is submitted that this assignment, along with public representations on websites and social media platforms, demonstrates a de facto transfer of ownership and management control of the channel.

Screenshots from the channel's website, LinkedIn profiles, and video interviews have also been annexed to show that individuals associated with Reporter Broadcasting Company publicly claim ownership and managerial control of the channel.

It is argued that such transfer especially after denial of security clearance to certain individuals, amounts to an indirect transfer to circumvent the regulatory prohibitions.

The writ petition also refers to ongoing civil proceedings before the Sub Court, Perumbavoor, where the petitioner has filed a defamation suit against parties associated with the channel. The court has reportedly passed an interim order restraining the defendants from making defamatory statements against him and the Kitex Group, observing that the allegations were prima facie defamatory.

The petitioner has sought a writ of mandamus directing the Ministry to consider and act upon his February 2 representation, including possible action under Paragraph 26(2) of the Broadcasting Guidelines and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.

Case Title: Sabu M Jacob v Union of India and Ors.

Case No: WP(C) 6889/ 2026

Counsel for Petitioner: Vijay V Paul, Ajay V Anand, Rojit Zachariah, P V Uttara, Angela Elsa JOhn, Radhika Prasad, Mohammed Azif S