By Aditi Singh

Zee Media Corporation Ltd has filed a criminal defamation case against Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra for calling Zee News 'chor' (thief) and paid news.

The matter was listed for hearing today before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal.

Appearing for the Complainant, Advocate Vijay Aggarwal showed the Court a video of Moitra where she could be seen remarking that Zee New was 'chor' and 'paid' news.

Agarwal also stressed upon her statement calling the "owner of Zee News" a "chor" and others related to the channels as "uneducated" and "budbak". On being asked by the Court, Aggarwal clarified that 'budbak" meant "stupid."

After briefly hearing Aggarwal, Judge Vishal posted the matter for consideration on August 1.

In the complaint filed through Advocates Vijay Aggarwal and Ayush Jindal, Zee Corp has stated that on July 3, Moitra made the following statement in front of various persons, including persons from media,

"i. Aap ka jo paid news hai wo kya keh rahe haiI am not bothered about them.. (What your paid news is saying, I am not bothered about it)

ii. Aap logon ka jo channel hai wo chor hai, uska owner chor hai, nai nai aap log nai kar sakte kar sakte, mene press release diya hai, aap log inte uneducated aur budwak hai, hum press release abhi de rahe hai.. (Your channel is a thief. its owner is a thief.. you all are so uneducated and stupud..). "

The Court is informed that the complainant has built an impeccable reputation as a premier Media House and earned name, fame and reputation in public through sheer hard work.

It is alleged that the "intentional hate campaign" of Moitra has tarnished the reputation of the complainant.

Last week, Moitra had filed a criminal defamation case against Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary for alleging that her June 25 speech at the Parliament on the 'Seven Signs of Fascism' was plagiarized.

Pursuant to the allegation, Moitra had also submitted a breach of privilege motion against Chaudhary.

On July 15, Metropolitan Magistrate Preeti Parewa took cognizance of Moitra's criminal defamation complaint.

Story first appeared in the Bar&Bench on 19th July 2019