HC restrains channel from telecasting news against Salman Khan

Mumbai: Holding that prima facie a news channel had telecast defamatory allegations against actor Salman Khan, the Bombay High Court today restrained it from telecasting such items.

Justice S J Kathawalla was hearing a suit filed by Salman seeking a written apology from ABP News channel for telecasting a news item allegedly defamatory to the actor. Salman approached the high court seeking an injunction on broadcast or telecast of such defamatory news items and direction to the channel to either submit a written apology or telecast an apology. Granting the interim relief of injunction, Justice Kathawala said, "I am prima facie satisfied that the Defendants (ABP News) are indulging in broadcasting defamatory allegations against the Plaintiff (Salman) which are likely to prejudice the Plaintiff in defence to the pending proceedings before the Sessions Court." The matter has been posted for further hearing tomorrow. On September 28, 2002, Salman had allegedly rammed his car into a bakery in suburban Bandra killing one and injuring four others who were sleeping on the footpath. Police said he was under the influence of liquor. The actor was then arrested and granted bail. Recently, the Sessions Court had ruled that the actor be charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder which attracts ten years jail term. Earlier, he was being tried by a Magistrate for `rash and negligent driving` for which punishment prescribed is two years. Salman`s appeal against this ruling is pending in the Sessions Court. PTI