The Supreme Court on October 9 stayed trial proceedings against TV Today Network Ltd., which owns Aaj Tak, in criminal defamation cases filed by BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri and his nephew, Rajpal Poswal, over a 2011 news broadcast. The interim relief will remain in force until further orders.
Background
The dispute concerns an Aaj Tak broadcast about a gang rape and abduction case. The complainants alleged that the report linked them to the accused and damaged their reputations. Bidhuri was then an MLA representing Delhi’s Tughlakabad constituency.
In December 2018, the trial court rejected discharge applications filed by TV Today Network and its officials. The Delhi High Court subsequently dismissed their challenge in November 2025, holding that the accused could not be discharged at that stage of a summons-triable complaint case.
TV Today Network approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s decision. The company and its officials sought relief from the ongoing criminal proceedings.
A Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan considered the matter. During the hearing, the Court was informed that the trial was scheduled for October 16, 2026, for the framing of charges.
The Supreme Court recorded the submission regarding the imminent trial date and ordered:
“Learned senior counsel for the petitioners submitted that the next date before the trial court is October 16, 2026. In these circumstances, there shall be a stay of further proceedings in CC No. 624318 of 2026 until further orders. List in December.”
The order temporarily halts further proceedings in the specified complaint case while the Supreme Court considers the pending challenge.
