Misconceived: SC rejects plea seeking complete ban on BBC operating in India

Last month, Centre issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial documentary "India: The Modi Question".

New Delhi, Feb 10: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking a ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and BBC India from operating from Indian territory in wake of airing the documentary titled, 'India: The Modi Question' relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots.

"The writ petition is entirely misconceived and has no merit and is accordingly dismissed," observed a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M M Sundresh.

The top court passed the order while hearing a plea filed by Vishnu Gupta, president of the Hindu Sena, and Beerendra Kumar Singh, a farmer.

Alleging that the BBC has been biased against India and the Indian government, the plea alleged that its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a "result of deep conspiracy against global rise of India and its prime minister".

"The documentary film by BBC relating to Gujarat violence 2002 implicating Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only reflective of anti-Narendra Modi cold propaganda broadcast to tarnish his image alone but this is anti-Hinduism propaganda by the BBC to destroy the social fabric of India," the plea had alleged.

On February 3, the apex court had sought responses from the Centre and others on the separate petitions challenging its decision to block the documentary.

The pleas, on which notice was issued by the top court, have been filed by veteran journalist N Ram, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan and lawyer M L Sharma.

Last month, the Centre, using emergency provisions under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial documentary.

The BBC released a documentary on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi titled "India: The Modi Question". The documentary was highly controversial, with both supporters and critics of the Prime Minister taking issue with various aspects of the film.

Supporters of PM Modi claimed that the documentary was biased and portrayed Modi in a negative light and hit out at BBC's anti-India rant.

Eminent personalities also took issue with the film's portrayal of events, claiming that it was inaccurate and misleading.