Bombay High Court
Nilesh Navalakha vs Union Of India Thru The Secretary/ Joint ... on 23 October, 2020
Author: G.S.Kulkarni
Bench: G.S.Kulkarni
2-PILST.1774.2020+4.odt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (ST) NO.1774 OF 2020
Mahesh Narayan Singh & Ors. } Petitioners
Versus
Union of India & Ors. } Respondents
WITH
PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (ST) NO.2339 OF 2020
Prernaa Virendrakumar Arora } Petitioner
Versus
The State of Maharashtra & Ors. } Respondents
WITH
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
Public Interest Litigation (ST) NO. 92252 OF 2020
Nilesh Navlakha & Anr. } Petitioners
Versus
Ministry of Information and }
Broadcasting the Secretary/Joint }
Secretary & Anr. } Respondents
WITH
PIL-CJ-LD-VC-NO.40 OF 2020
Asim Suhas Sarode } Petitioners
Versus
News Broadcasting Association }
(NBA) & Ors. } Respondents
WITH
ORIGINAL SIDE
PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (L) NO.3145 OF 2020
In Pursuit of Justice } Petitioners
Versus
The Union of India & Ors. } Respondents
Page 1 of 5
J.V.Salunke,PS
2-PILST.1774.2020+4.odt
Mr. Aspi Chinoy, Sr. Counsel a/w Mr.Gaurav Joshi,
Senior Counsel with Mr. Chetan Kapadia, Mr. R. Sarda,
A. Joshi, F. Patel, Mrs.Manik Joshi, Mr. M. Bajpai, G.
Gangal i/b. M/s.Crawford Bayley & Co., for the
petitioners in Cri. PIL St. No. 1774/2020
Mr. Devdatta Kamat, Sr. Adv. a/w Mr. Rajesh Inamdar
with Mr. Pankaj Kandhari, Mr. Shashwat Anand,
Ms.Smita Pandey, Mr. Amit Pai, Mr. Aditya Bhat,
Mr.Rafiue Shaikh, Mr. Saif Alam, Mr. Ankur Azad i/b
Pankaj Kandhari for Petitioner in PIL St. 92252/2020.
Shri.P.P.Kakade, GP with Smt.R.A.Salunkhe , AGP for
State.
Mr. Asim S. Sarode, Petitioner in Person in PIL CJ LD
VC 40/2020.
Shri.P.P.Kakade, GP with Shri.M.M. Pable, AGP for
State.
Dr. Neela Gokhale a/w Ms. Yogini Abhay Ugale Mr.
Adv. Kushal Chaudhary, Ms.Shruti Dixit , Ms.Harshal
Gupta for Petitioner in O.S. PIL (L) 3145/2020.
Mr. Prashant Mishra for R. No. 2 (Press Council of
India) in O.S. PIL (L) 3145/20/2020 and Civil PIL-CJ-LD-
VC-40 of 2020.
Mr.Sunny Punamiya for Petitioner in Criminal PIL
St.No.2339 of 2020.
Adv. Abhishek Malhotra a/w Adv.Sneha Herwade i/b
TMT Law Practice for R.No.2 In Criminal PIL (L)
No.2339 of 2020.
Siddhesh Bhole, Zeeshan Hasmi, Ankit Parasher,
Rishabh Dhanuka i/b S. S. B. Legal & Advisory for R.
No. 15 in Cr. PIL 1774/2020.
Zeeshan Hashmi , Ankit Parashar Adv. I/b Alba Law
Offices for Respondent No.1o in Civil PIL St.No.92252
of 2020
Page 2 of 5
J.V.Salunke,PS
2-PILST.1774.2020+4.odt
Mr. Anil Singh, ASG a/w Mr. Sandesh Patil, Mr. Aditya
Thakkar, Mr. Singh, Ms. Apurva Gute, Mr. Chintan, Mr.
Mayur Jaisingh, Mr. Sumedh Sahakari, Mr. D. P. Singh,
Ms. Reshma Ravapati, Mr. Saurabh Prabhulkar and
Medvita Trivedi Adv. For Union of India and CBI, NCB &
ED. in Criminal PIL St.No1774 of 2020.
Mr. Deepak Thakre, P.P. with Mr. J. P. Yagnik, APP for
State In Criminal PIL St.No.1774 of 2020.
Mr.Kunal Tandon a/w Ms. Prachi Pandya i/b Corporate
Attorneys, Advocate for the Respondent, Times Now.
Mr. Ankit Lohia a/w Mr.Hetal Thakore, Mr.Kunal Parekh,
Ms. Bhavika Tiwari i/b. Dua Associates AOR Mumbai,
Advocate for the Respondent No.12 (Zee News) in
Criminal PIL St.No.1774 of 2020 and for Respondent
No.11 in Civil PIL St.No.92252 of 2020.
Jayant Mehta a/w Mr. Alankar Kirpekar a/w Mr. Tejveer
Bhatia, Mr. Rohan Swarop, Mr. Shekhar Bhagat i/b
MAG Legal for R. No. 15 (India TV) in Civil PIL
St.No.92252/2020.
Mr.Alankar Kirpekar a/w Mr.Tejveer Bhatia, Mr.Rohan
Swarop, Mr.Shekhar Bhagat i/b MAG Legal for R.No.14
(India TV) in Criminal PIL St.No.1774 of 2020
Ms.Malvika Trivedi Advocate for the Respondent
No.8/Republic TV.
Mr. Rajeev K. Pandey with Madhur Rai i/b PRS Legal
for Respondent No.7 The India Today Group ( TV
Today Network Ltd.) in Criminal PIL St.No.1774 of
2020 and for Respondent No.o in Civil PIL
St.No.92252 of 2020
Mr.Pralhad Paranjape, Advocate for the Respondent
News Broadcasters Federation.
Sr.Adv.Siddharth Bhatnagar a/w Adv.Pralhad
Paranjape for NBF R.No.o in Cri.PIL St. No.1774/2020
and for R.No.17 in Civil PIL St. No.92252/20.
Ms.Hetal Jobanputra, Advcoate for the Respondent
Page 3 of 5
J.V.Salunke,PS
2-PILST.1774.2020+4.odt
No.13 (ABP News. ) in Criminal PIL (St.) No.1774/2020
and for the Respondent No.14 (ABP News) in Criminal
PIL (St.)NO.92252/2020.
Sr.Adv.Arvind Datar a/w Nisha Bhambhani, Rahul
Unnikrishnan and Tarun Krishnakumar i/b Bharat
Manghani.for Respondent No.4 (NBSA) In Criminal PIL
No.1774/2020
Sr.Adv.Arvind Datar i/b Bharat Manghani for
Respondent No.3 (NBA) In Criminal PIL No.1774 of
2020 and Civil PIL ST.No.92252 of 2020
Mr.Rajeev K.Pandey with Mr.Madhur Rai i/b PRS Legal
for Respondent No.7 India Today Group (TV Today
Network Ltd.).
Civil PIL St.No.92252/2020 Rajeev K.Panday, with
Madhur Rai i/b India Today Group (T.V. Today Network
Ltd.).
CORAM : DIPANKAR DATTA CJ &
G.S.KULKARNI, J.
DATED : OCTOBER 23, 2020. P.C.:-
1. We have heard today Mr. Ankit Lohia, learned advocate for Zee News, Mr. Alankar Kirpekar, learned advocate for India TV, Mr. Zeeshan Hashmi, learned advocate for News Nation, Mr.Anil Singh, learned Additional Solicitor General for the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate, and the Narcotics Control Bureau, Mr. Sunny Punamiya, learned advocate for the petitioners in CRPILST/2339/2020, and Mr. Devadatta Kamat, learned senior advocate for the petitioners in PIL ST/92252/2020, in that order.
2. We have also heard. Mr. Arvind Datar, learned senior advocate for the NBA and the NBSA taking exception to Page 4 of 5 J.V.Salunke,PS 2-PILST.1774.2020+4.odt certain statements in the rejoinder affidavit of the petitioner in PIL ST/92252/2020. According to him, unfounded allegations have been made by such petitioner. We have eniuired of Mr. Kamat as to whether the petitioner wishes to rely on such statements. He answers in the negative. That takes care of the Mr. Datar's concern and we allow the matter to rest.
3. On behalf of Mr. Chinoy, learned senior advocate for the petitioner in CR PIL ST/1774/2020, it has been submitted that he is in personal difficulty and that a further date may be fxed to enable him to advance his argument in rejoinder.
4. We adjourn hearing till Thursday next (29th October, 2020) at 10.30 a.m.
5. This order will be digitally signed by the Private Secretary/Personal Assistant of this Court. All concerned will act on production by fax or e-mail of a digitally signed copy of this order.
Jayant V. Salunke Digitally signed by Jayant V. Salunke Date: 2020.10.23 18:02:18 +0530 (G.S.KULKARNI, J.) (CHIEF JUSTICE) Page 5 of 5 J.V.Salunke,PS