HC seeks TV Today reply on Louise suit

The Delhi High court on Friday sought response from the TV Today group and 13 others on a civil defamation suit filed by Law Minister Salman Khurshid's wife Louise Khurshid against the media house for airing a programme alleging financial irregularities in a trust run by the couple.

"Issue summons to all defendants. Let the statements be filed in four weeks," Justice Valmiki J Mehta said while hearing the lawsuit.

Louise had sought damages of Rs 1 crore from the media house but did not press for a stay on the repeat telecast of the programme or follow-up reports. Appearing for Louise, senior advocate Parag Tripathi submitted that at this stage he would like the court to issue notice to the defendants.

The court also sought clarification from the counsel as to whether she filed this suit in her personal capacity or on behalf of the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run by them.

"If it is on behalf of the trust, then are other members or office-bearers who belong to the trust interested in approaching the court or not?" the court said and asked the counsel to make it clear by the next hearing on January 30.

The court was hearing Louise's plea against TV Today Network, Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, chairman and editor Aroon Purie, M J Akbar, editorial director of India Today and Headlines Today, Shams Tahir Khan, Rahul Kanwal and Mail Today.

In her plea, she said, "Pass an order against the defendants restraining them and all their agents, nominees and servants from repeating, publishing, broadcasting, distributing or disseminating in any form or manner whatsoever such defamatory materials referred to in the application and the accompanying suit relating to or arising from, in connection with any alleged acts or behaviour relatable to the plaintiff or the trust."

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