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Court Awards Actor Damages Over Veerappan Interview
8 Jun
Summary
- Actor R. Sukanya awarded ₹10 lakh in damages.
- Court found malice and lack of verification by the network.
- Network failed to edit scandalous allegations from a 1996 interview.
The Madras High Court has ordered Sun TV Network to pay ₹10 lakh in damages to actor R. Sukanya. This decision stems from a 1996 interview conducted by journalist R. Gopal with forest brigand Veerappan, which was aired by the network without editing out defamatory allegations against the actor.
Justice K. Kumaresh Babu dismissed the network's appeal, upholding a previous decree from a city civil court. The judge determined that the charge of malice was proven against the channel, emphasizing its failure to verify the interview's content before broadcast. This ruling concluded a legal battle that began when Ms. Sukanya filed a suit in 1996.
The television network had contended it did not intend to defame anyone, attributing the airing to Mr. Gopal. However, Mr. Gopal stated the network had the right to edit. The court found the network had reserved an unrestricted right to edit but failed to take diligent steps, noting their subsequent expression of regret in a magazine rather than on their own channel, which indicated malice.
