'No license to run channel'; Kitex sues Reporter channel over fake news, seeks Rs 250 crore compensation

KOCHI: Sabu M. Jacob, Managing Director of Indian apparel manufacturer Kitex, initiated legal action against the Reporter channel, its operators and employees, alleging that they aired fake news. Sabu M Jacob is demanding Rs. 250 crores in compensation. The Twenty20 Party, of which Sabu M. Jacob is the president, became an NDA ally the other day. According to the complaint, the television channel aired false news portraying that Sabu made his switch to NDA to evade the inspection from the Enforcement Directorate. Sabu said legal action was taken after the channel continued to broadcast the news despite his calling out the fake news.

Notices have been sent to 16 people, including Managing Editor Anto Augustine, Managing Director K.J. Jose, Director Melby Jose, Chairman Roji Augustine, Vice Chairman Josekutty Augustine, employees and reporters of the channel Arunkumar, Smriti Paruthikad, T.V. Sunil, Jimmy James, T.V. Prasad, S.S. Saran, Vineetha Venu, Arjun Mattannur, Indo Asian News Channel Private Limited Company, Managing Director Nikesh Kumar, and Director Rani Varghese.

In a presser conducted on the last day, Sabu had warned of initiating legal action, including filing civil and criminal cases against the channel and confiscating the properties of the accused.

Sabu said that those running the channel were previously accused in several cases, and he even made shocking allegations that the channel is being aired without a license. Sabu said that the Broadcasting or the Ministry of Home Affairs had rejected the application for a channel license, citing national security issues. Sabu M. Jacob said that the channel is being run in violation of many legal systems in the country and that he will file a complaint with the relevant authorities against this.