Bengaluru court orders 3 months jail for Power TV MD over contempt
Bengaluru (PTI): A court here has sentenced Power TV Managing Director Rakesh Shetty to three months in jail for violation of an interim injunction that restrained the channel from telecasting defamatory content against former IPS officer B R Ravikanthe Gowda.
Gowda is presently the Inspector General of Police, Karnataka Eastern Range.
“The respondent found committed disobedience or breach of interim order of temporary injunction passed by this court on 08.09.2023,” the Bengaluru Rural District court said.
It then said, “the respondent shall be detained in civil prison for three months” upon deposit of subsistence allowance as fixed by the state government.
Passing the order, senior civil judge Abdul Saleem said the petitioner has proved “beyond all shadow of doubt that the respondent/defendant No.52 had wilfully committed disobedience” of the injunction order.
The court observed that despite having clear knowledge of the interim order, Power TV continued to air programmes portraying the petitioner in a negative light.
Referring to the evidence, the judge recorded that the channel broadcast programmes on September 22 and 23, 2023, including a show titled “Power Breaking”, which discussed the petitioner’s character and projected him in the negative spectrum.
Rejecting the defence contention, the court reiterated the settled legal position that even violation of an ex-parte interim injunction attracts contempt proceedings.
While in force, these orders have to be obeyed and their violation can be punished, he added.
The matter has been posted to January 31, 2026, for deposit of subsistence allowance.
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Mamata alleges BJP disrupted her Bhabanipur rally, Suvendu claims 'she's nervous'
Kolkata (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cut short her speech at a rally in her Bhabanipur constituency, alleging that the BJP was deliberately playing loud music from a nearby public meeting.
A peeved Banerjee said despite having the required permission of the Election Commission, her rally in Chakraberia was disrupted by the BJP, "who want to capture Bengal by intimidation and threat".
"It is not possible for me to go ahead with this meeting. If they can do such a thing in my constituency, imagine how undemocratic the BJP is. If they behave like this, I have to take legal action," she said.
"This is an insult, humiliation. BJP is stepping on our toes to instigate trouble. Not possible to address the gathering in this situation. I am leaving the stage. Please vote for me in your protest," she added.
Banerjee was then seen calling someone over and venting her grievances.
Before leaving the stage, she said, "I will hold a rally tomorrow at the same spot."
TMC supporters then rushed towards the BJP rally, which was later addressed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, but security personnel intervened and prevented the situation from escalating.
TMC workers later staged a demonstration outside the local police station and filed a complaint, alleging that the BJP violated the model code of conduct.
A senior TMC leader said another complaint will also be lodged with the Election Commission.
Asked about Banerjee's allegations, Adhikari told reporters after the rally he held nearby, "Her reaction shows she is nervous about the imminent loss."
"There was no violence, no obstruction in her meeting and her behaviour shows her nervousness. On May 4, people of Bhabanipur will celebrate the victory of the BJP," he claimed, alleging that the TMC also tried to disrupt his meeting by playing loud music.
South Kolkata's Bhabanipur, one of the battleground seats in the West Bengal elections, will vote in the second phase on April 29.
