A separate criminal case was registered against Telugu TV news channel Zee 24 Gantalu for the special story telecast by it on DGP V. Dinesh Reddy’s meeting with godman Habib Mustafa Idrus Baba in Old City following a complaint lodged by the latter’s son.
The complainant Habeeb Mohammed charged that the channel had telecast a defamatory story by faking news. According to him, the channel described the godman as a land-grabber and falsely mentioned that he performed black-magic.
He stated that the DGP was invited for a meeting, but the channel attributed different motives to it showing the godman in poor light. Sections 295 (deliberate and malicious acts insulting religious feelings), 500 (defamation) and 505 (statements conducting to public mischief) of the IPC were invoked.
