Indian SC dismisses plea seeking ban on BBC operations

The Indian Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking a complete ban on the operations of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in India in the wake of airing a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the context of 2002 riots in Gujarat state.

A bench, consisting of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice M M Sundersh, rejected the petition by describing it as "absolutely misconceived", reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The petition was filed by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta in the wake of BBC airing a documentary critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When the matter was taken up, Justice Khanna said "this is totally misconceived. How can this be argued? You want us to put complete censorship? What is this?".

In his petition, Vishnu Gupta claimed the BBC had taken an "anti-India' position in the documentary, which has hit headlines in India for its criticism of Modi and that the film is a result of deep conspiracy against global rise of India and its Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi (which)... is not being digested by anti-India lobby, media particularly BBC."

Advocate Pinky Anand, represented the petitioner.