JNU row: Delhi court to consider complaint over ‘doctored’ videos

A Delhi court on Monday fixed May 26 for considering a complaint against three news channels that allegedly ran doctored videos of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) protests.

A Delhi court on Monday fixed May 26 for considering a complaint against three news channels that allegedly ran doctored videos of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) protests.

Demonstrators shout slogans as they hold placards of Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya who are facing charges of sedition, in New Delhi. (Virendra Singh Gosain/HT File Photo)

The complaint was filed by the Delhi government, seeking action against Zee News, NewsX and India News for broadcasting “doctored” videos of the February 9 incident at the JNU where “anti-India” slogans were raised.

Delhi government’s counsel N Hariharan told the court the accused knowingly and with malicious intent caused damage to the JNU students and the university, and disrupted communal harmony and security in Delhi by transmitting a forged, fabricated, doctored and altered video.

He added that the doctored video was shown as genuine.

“The accused persons are therefore liable for prosecution under Sections 465 (punishment for forgery) and 471 (using as genuine forged document or electronic record) of the Indian Penal Code,” the counsel said.

In the plea, the government sought action against the editors-in-chief, managing directors and directors of the news channels, and two companies: Z ee News Media Corp Ltd and Information TV Pvt Ltd.

A magisterial report submitted to the Delhi government on March 2 said that “no direct link” had been found between JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar and the “anti-India” slogans raised on February 9.

The report added that the role of Umar Khalid, another JNU student accused of raising anti-India slogans, needed to be further investigated.

On February 9, an event was organised at the JNU to commemorate the third anniversary of the execution of parliament terror attack convict, Afzal Guru.

Anti-India slogans were allegedly raised at the event following which Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on charges of sedition.

Kumar was granted bail for six months by the Delhi high court on March 2. Khalid and another JNU student, Anirban Bhattacharya, were also granted bail later.