Gujarat NGO Withdraws Defamation Suit Against BBC Over Modi Documentary
In a notable development, the Gujarat-based non-profit organization, Justice on Trial, has decided to withdraw its ₹10,000 crore defamation lawsuit filed against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The case revolved around a documentary titled India: The Modi Question, which the NGO claimed tarnished the reputation of India, its judiciary, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Appearing before Justice Tushar Rao Gedela of the Delhi High Court on September 3, Advocate Siddharth Sharma represented the NGO and expressed his client’s intention to withdraw the case. He indicated that a new lawsuit with the same cause of action would be filed. The court accepted this request, officially marking the case as “dismissed as withdrawn.”
The withdrawal follows persistent inquiries from the court about the case’s viability. The court noted that despite being filed in 2023, the case faced numerous adjournments, leading to delays in proceedings. On April 15, 2026, the court imposed a fine of ₹20,000 on the NGO for requesting an adjournment.
The case initially captured attention when the High Court issued a notice concerning the Indigent Person Application (IPA) submitted by Justice on Trial. This application sought the court’s permission to proceed without paying upfront court fees, as permitted under Order 33 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC). According to CPC regulations, individuals unable to afford court fees may file a suit or appeal as an indigent person.
Given the substantial monetary value associated with the defamation claim, Justice on Trial would have been required to pay a significant court fee. Consequently, they filed an IPA alongside the lawsuit. However, the court had only issued notice on the IPA, not on the suit itself.
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This legal maneuvering underscores ongoing tensions between freedom of expression and perceived defamation, a common theme in high-profile cases involving prominent public figures and media organizations. As the NGO prepares to refile its case, legal observers will be keenly watching the developments that follow.
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