'Absolutely Misconceived': SC Rejects Hindu Sena's Plea Seeking Ban On BBC In India, NIA Probe Into Documentary On PM Modi

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea seeking a complete ban on BBC in India over the documentary on PM Modi.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea seeking a complete ban on BBC in India over the documentary on PM Modi.

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The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by the Hindu Sena seeking a complete ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and BBC India from operating from Indian territory in the wake of airing a documentary on PM Modi.

The petition was filed by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and MM Sundersh dismissed the petition by terming it as "absolutely misconceived", the Live Law reported.

Hearing the plea, Justice Khanna said, "This is totally misconceived". 

The Supreme Court asked the petitioner if they asked for complete censorship. Justice Khanna asked, "How can this be argued? You want us to put complete censorship..what is this?"

Even as the petitioner requested the bench to post the matter along with the other petitions which challenge the Centre's order blocking access to the documentary the Bench dismissed the petition saying, "The writ petition is entirely misconceived; has no merit and is dismissed.

The petition also sought directions to the NIA to initiate a probe into the documentary.

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 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.

The top court had on February 3 also directed the central government to produce original records relating to its decision to block the BBC documentary.

On January 21, the government issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial documentary.

(With inputs from PTI)