'Don't Go Below The Belt': Bombay High Court Tells Republic TV To Tone Down Coverage Of Cases On Anil Ambani

The Bombay High Court on Monday orally told Republic TV and its editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, to avoid using disparaging adjectives while reporting on industrialist Anil Ambani and investigations involving Reliance group of companies.

Hearing Ambani's defamation suit seeking an injunction against the channel, Justice Milind Jadhav made pointed remarks against sensational tagging and high-pitched commentary used in recent coverage.

"Bring down the rhetoric... Please run stories without using adjectives or disparaging someone...Just stop going below the belt...You are doing your duty of giving news etc that is okay but hitting below the belt is NOT OKAY... I am telling you this very frankly," the judge told the counsel appearing for the channel.

The development comes in a defamation suit filed by Anil Ambani, alleging that that the impugned broadcasts relate to Enforcement Directorate proceedings involving Reliance Communications Ltd (RCOM), Reliance Home Finance Ltd and Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, and that despite his stepping down as Non-Executive Director of RCOM in November 2019 and having no managerial role in the other companies, the channel “maliciously, falsely and irresponsibly” linked him personally to alleged financial misconduct.

The suit asserts that the defendants repeatedly used expressions such as “financial scam mastermind, cheat, money launderer, fraud,” creating a “false perception of guilt” and exposing him to “public hatred, ridicule and contempt.”

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani appearing for Goswami and Republic TV sought to invoke the defence of 'fair comment'.

However, Justice Jadhav expressed concern over the use of excessive rhetoric by the channel, observing, “Mr Jethmalani, bring down the rhetoric. Please run stories without using adjectives or disparaging someone… When we give superlative taglines to news, hitting below the belt is NOT OKAY.”

He added that while investigative agencies would continue their work and media houses had a duty to report, there were limits: “You are doing your duty of giving news, that is okay. But stop going below the belt.”

Advocate Mayur Khandeparkar appearing for Ambani, pointed out that his photograph was repeatedly flashed on screen alongside commentary containing terms such as “financial scamster” and “fraudster.” He argued that the channel's coverage was not mere reporting but amounted to a targeted campaign.

In response, Justice Jadhav said, “Let me make myself very clear — I am not gagging any media channel. All that I am saying is just run your story and not resort to using such comments...I am not saying anything about the stories.... People have the right to know etc. I just want the channel not to use certain words... Otherwise you (Republic) carry on with your stories.”

The judge further warned of the consequences of continued disregard: “Justice Manmohan in the Delhi High Court was constrained to pass orders against your client (Arnab). If in my court your client doesn't listen to me, and next day if someone comes and points it out, I will pass interim orders. I do not want a Shashi Tharoor repeat in my court of what happened in Delhi. You carry on with your stories — just DO NOT HIT BELOW THE BELT.”

Justice Jadhav added that he had gone through the plaint and suggested the channel to exercise some restraint. "I read that "the goose is cooked" term and I was like what language is this... It has several meanings..."

Jethmalani then assured that the channel won't use this term.

The matter is now kept on April 16, awaiting the channel's formal reply.

"You file your reply to the suit and we will hear you all. Let there be a fair level playing field for everybody... Don't go below the belt... Wait for my orders...avoid using disparaging words..." the judge said while parting.