J&K court orders FIR against Zee News, News18 for defaming deceased islamic teacher as 'terrorist'
Poonch/Srinagar, June 29, 2025: A court in Jammu and Kashmir has directed the police to register an FIR against Zee News, News18, Republic TV, and other unnamed editorial personnel for falsely branding a deceased Islamic seminary teacher as a "Pakistani terrorist." The case pertains to the death of Qari Mohammad Iqbal during cross-border shelling in Poonch earlier this year, The Wire has reported.
The order was issued on Saturday (June 28) by Sub-Judge Shafeeq Ahmed in Poonch district, following a petition filed by local advocate Sheikh Mohd Saleem under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The petitioner sought legal action over the defamatory media reports related to Qari Mohammad Iqbal, a teacher at Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom, one of the largest Islamic seminaries in Poonch.
Qari Iqbal was among 12 civilians killed during heavy artillery shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control on May 7, in the aftermath of India’s military action termed ‘Operation Sindoor’. Iqbal had reportedly gone out to purchase groceries for students when he was killed.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, several national television channels, including Republic World, News18, and Zee News, aired reports labeling Iqbal as a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and a “Pakistani terrorist.” Republic claimed he was involved in major attacks, including Pulwama, while News18 and Zee News echoed similar allegations.
These claims were widely protested by the local residents of Poonch, who described Iqbal as a respected religious teacher with no links to militancy. The Jammu and Kashmir police subsequently issued an advisory warning media houses of potential legal consequences for misreporting and spreading misinformation, particularly during a period of heightened tensions.
The court, in its order, observed: “An apology may have mitigating value at the stage of sentencing but does not preclude the statutory duty of police to register an FIR once a cognizable offence is disclosed.”
Citing Sections 353(2) (public mischief), 356 (defamation), and 196(1) (promoting enmity between religious groups) of the BNS, along with Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, the court emphasized the seriousness of the false reporting. It directed the Poonch Station House Officer (SHO) to file a compliance report within seven days and conduct a “fair, impartial and time-bound investigation.”
The court underlined that the freedom of the press under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution is not absolute and must be exercised responsibly within the constraints of Article 19(2), which allows reasonable restrictions on grounds such as public order, defamation, and decency.
“Branding a deceased civilian teacher as a ‘Pakistani terrorist’ without verification, especially during Indo-Pak hostilities, cannot be dismissed as a mere journalistic lapse,” the court observed.
The misleading reportage, according to the court, had caused significant emotional harm to the bereaved family, damaged the reputation of the seminary, and hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community in the region.
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Remarks against St Francis Xavier: Right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar gets bail
Panaji (PTI): A court in Goa on Saturday granted bail to right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar, who was arrested after he allegedly made derogatory comments against St Francis Xavier.
Judicial Magistrate First Class, Vasco, granted regular bail to Khattar, currently admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim for treatment of chest pain after he was shifted from the District Hospital in Mapusa two days back.
A row erupted after a video of remarks by Khattar, the founder of Sanatan Mahasangh, at an event on April 18 in the presence of Swami Brahmeshanand, State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and BJP MLAs Sankulp Amonkar and Daji (Krishna) Salkar, went viral.
St Francis Xavier is revered as the patron saint of Goa.
The controversial remarks led to the Vasco Police registering an FIR against Khattar on charges of hurting religious sentiments and creating enmity between groups.
He was detained in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, by local police. His custody was later handed over to the Goa Crime Branch, according to officials.
