MUMBAI: An FIR has been registered against the chief managing director (CMD) and editor-in-chief of Sudarshan news channel for allegedly instigating enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion. Sudarshan News, a satellite TV channel launched on 26 January 2007, is a Hindi news channel based in Uttar Pradesh. Suresh Chavhanke is the chairman, managing director and also the editor-in-chief.

Sudarshan TV is among the list of channels which has applied to  the ministry of information and broadcasting for approval of two more channels.

The FIR has been lodged under various sections of IPC including those dealing with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth and over content to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public and other sections, Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) police station SHO Brijmohan Giri told PTI.

Giri said that provisions related to intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion, deliberate and malicious acts, and Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2000, have also been invoked, he said. It was alleged that the channel had telecast a programme in which Chavhanke mentioned objectionable content because of which tension prevailed in the city.

The FIR was registered when the matter was raised during a meeting of the Peace Committee on 9 April, in which prominent citizens pointed to the programme aired between 6 April and 8 April.

When contacted by PTI, the channel said that it condemned any attempt to suppress and intimidate the media. A statement issued by Chavhanke stated that they condemned any act to suppress and the intimidate the media. To protest against that, he would be reaching Sambhal on 13 April.

Also Read:

Zee, Bennett, Discovery, Disney, NDTV, Viacom 18, BBC & Raj TV among 112 channels awaiting clearance