MUMBAI: A former assistant commissioner of police, Iqbal Shaikh, filed on Monday a suit before the city civil court against Republic TV editor-inchief Arnab Goswami to restrain him and Republic TV from discussing or referring to the TRP case and defaming Mumbai police. The suit alleges Goswami, as owner and editor of the channel, is using his position to “arbitrate his case”.
The suit, which will be heard on Wednesday, seeks damages worth Rs 5 lakh for loss of reputation to Shaikh, a “decorated officer of the august institution of Mumbai police”.
The primary legal ground the suit relies on is that under statutory guidelines issued by the Press Council of India, the owner of a media house cannot prevail on the editor for his own private interest. It claimed Goswami “is serving his private interest as owner of the channel to wriggle out of the case”.