Pranoy Roy led media conglomerate NDTV has been sued for Rs. 10,000 crores by Anil Ambani led Reliance Group in a court in Ahmedabad for its coverage of the Rafale fighter jet deal between India and France.
In a development that will give a new twist to Rafale fighter deal controversy, the hearing of the case filed by Anil Ambani led Reliance Croup has been listed in the Ahmedabad court on 26 October.
In a news post NDTV said that it will contest ‘the charges of defamation’.
The lawsuit is filed against NDTV’s weekly show, Truth vs Hype, which was aired on 29 September.
NDTV said, “Top executives of Reliance ignored repeated, multiple and written requests to appear on the show or comment on what is being widely discussed not just in India but in France as well – whether Anil Ambani’s Reliance was transparently chosen as the partner for Dassault in a deal that saw India buying 36 fighter jets.”
Rafale. (Photo Courtesy Dassault Aviation).
NDTV described the charges as nothing more than a ‘heavy-handed attempt by Anil Ambani’s group to suppress the facts and prevent the media from doing its job’.
The NDTV stated that it reported all sides of the story including Dassault’s denial that it had been under any pressure to select Reliance.
In a scathing criticism of Anil Ambani led group, NDTV said: “As the Rafale deal has become a larger news story in India, the Reliance group has been on a notice-serving spree.”
Delhi based media group said that it outright rejected any charges of defamation and would present material in court to support its case.
