Times Now backs down, agrees not to defame and abuse film industry

The news channel Times Now has settled a suit with several Hindi film production houses, agreeing not to air or publish anything defamatory against the industry.

The media conglomerate Times Network, which owns the channel, put out a joint statement with the Producers Guild of India on Tuesday, declaring that it would abide by the programme code.

The suit was filed by 34 major production houses in October 2020 in the Delhi high court, against Times Now and Republic TV, over their 'irresponsible, derogatory, and defamatory remarks against members of the film industry' while covering the Sushant Singh Rajput case. 

The news channels had received flak after several unsubstantiated reports were called out by industry members. The National Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) had pulled up several channels, including Republic TV, for their coverage which flouted reportage norms. 

According to the legal website LiveLaw.in, the suit sought to restrain anchors Navika Kumar, Arnab Goswami, Pradeep Bhandari and Rahul Shivshankar from making scandalous remarks against the film industry.

The plaintiffs included Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan (Red Chillies Entertainment), Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Yash Raj Films, Dharma Productions, Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films, Vishal Bhardwaj, Reliance Entertainment, Akshay Kumar's Cape of Good Films, Anushka Sharma's Clean Slate Filmz, Farhan Akhtar/Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment, Kabir Khan Films, Nadiadwala Grandson's Entertainment, Rohit Shetty Picturez, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Films, Roy Kapur Films, Sikhya Entertainment, the Film & Television Producers Guild of India, Cine and TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA), Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC) and the Screenwriters Association (SWA).

The channel published a statement that asserted its willingness to settle the case. The statement read, "As per the consent terms agreed, Times Now reaffirms its commitment to abide under the Cable TV Network Regulation Act 1994 and the Cable TV Network Regulation Rules 1994 and undertakes not to publish or air anything that is defamatory to the Plaintiffs (Hindi film industry) on the Times Now channel." 

The Producers Guild of India shared the same statement on social media. 

The application for settlement, along with the consent terms, is pending acceptance by the Delhi high court. 

LiveLaw.in stated that the high court, while issuing notice, asked the channels to strictly follow the programme code with respect to their content.