ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
Raj Mani Chauhan, J.
Manjit Singh, Ceo, Multi Screen Media Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi -Appellant
Versus
State of U.P.and another -Respondent
Cr. Misc. Case No. 3692 of 2010
Decided On : 07-12-2010
Section 482 - Quashing of Criminal Proceedings - Code of Criminal Procedure - Sections 499/500 I.P.C.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, CEO of a media company, sought to quash defamation proceedings against him for the telecast of a program. The complainant alleged defamation due to false allegations made against him and his family members in the program.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the summoning order suffered from non-application of mind and the petitioner could not be held vicariously liable for the telecast of the defamatory episode. The complaint was deemed an abuse of the criminal process, and the summoning order and proceedings were quashed.
Issues: Non-application of mind in summoning the accused and the vicarious liability of the petitioner for the telecast of the defamatory episode.
Ratio Decidendi: The summoning order must reflect the magistrate's application of mind, and a person cannot be vicariously liable for the act done by another person unless the law provides for vicarious liability.
Final Decision: The petition was allowed, and the summoning order and proceedings against the petitioner were quashed.
This petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter referred to as the 'Code') has been filed by the accused petitioner Manjit Singh, CEO, 'Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd.', resident of 101-A, Friends Colony East, New Delhi, before this Court to invoke its inherent power for quashing the proceedings of complaint case No. 628 of 2010; Pramod Bajaj Vs. Manjit Singh and others, under Sections 499/500 I.P.C. pending in the court of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-V, Lucknow (hereinafter referred to as 'Magistrate') as well as for quashing the summoning order dated 18.07.2010 passed by the learned Magistrate in the complaint case referred above.
2. The relevant facts giving rise to the present petition may be summarised as under:-
One MSM Satellite (Singapore) Pvt. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as ' Company) is a Company incorporated under the laws of Singapore and has its office in city Singapore. The company operates channel known as "Sony Entertainment Television". The different companies, producers and directors used to telecast their programmes on this channel as allowed by the company under agreement. The petitioner Manjit Singh is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of "Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd". which is a corporate company registered in India under the Indian Companies Act and is exclusive distributor in India of the Channel owned by MSM Satellite (Singapore) Pvt. Ltd. One of the producers namely 'Optimistic Entertainment India Ltd'. is producer of a programme named "Crime Patrol" which was telecast on "Sony Entertainment Television". The petitioner being Chief Executive Officer of the Company 'Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd' use to manage over all affairs of the company subject to the superintendence and control of the Board of the Directors of the Company. The producer of the "Crime Patrol" programme telecast its programme on 8th February 2010 at 8.30 P.M and 11.00 P.M. which as per allegation of opposite party No.2, Pramod Bajaj-the complainant was defamatory to him as well as his family members.
3. The opposite party No.2 filed a complaint against petitioner and six others in the court of learned Magistrate with the allegation that he after seeking divorce from his first wife Renu on 31.05.2008 entered into remarriage with one Rakhi Gupta of Delhi on 28.12.2008. On the next date of marriage Rakhi Gupta as well as her brother Sumit Gupta sworn affidavit stating therein that opposite party No.2 had neither made any demand of dowry at the time of marriage nor they had given any kind of dowry to him. He on the next date of marriage i.e. 29.12.2008 took Rakhi Gupta to Mumbai where Rakhi Gupta disclosed him that she was a homosexual lady. She was not interested in marriage. She under the pressure of her parents had entered into marriage with him. She was so ill tempered lady, she misbehaved with his mother. She had dashed his mother, who had fallen down and sustained fracture injury on her hip. She had to be admitted in hospital and had to be operated. The complainant has further alleged that Rakhi Gupta later on with false and fabricated story lodged an FIR against him and his family members in Delhi. Consequently, he was arrested by the Delhi police in Lucknow and was taken to Delhi. When he was present at the Police Station in Delhi on 20.12.2009, Chitransh, a reporter along with so many persons reached there with T.V. Camera. His both the wives i.e. his first wife Renu and second wife Rakhi Gupta were present there at the police station. He pressurised him to give interview. Consequently, he on his pressure gave answers to three or four questions put by him. He was later on produced by the police before the learned Magistrate and thereafter he was released on bail by the order of Sessions Judge. His mother on 21.01.2010 wrote a letter of request to the petitioner, Manjit Singh and Chitransh, Reporter not to telecast any programme relating to the episode that had taken plac
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.