Jitendra Awhad, NCP’s legislator from Kalwa-Mumbra, has sent a legal notice to news-channel ‘Times Now’ and its editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, asking them to tender an unconditional apology for making allegedly defamatory statements against him on the programme ‘The Newshour Debate’ aired on October 6. Mr Awhad also threatened to file a defamation suit worth Rs 100 crore against them if they failed to comply with the notice that was sent on October 27.
Advocate Prashant Kadam, who represents Mr Awhad, sent notices to five parties, including Mr Goswami, Megha Prasad, Mumbai bureau chief–Times Now, and Times Global Broadcasting Co Ltd (TGBCL). The five parties should tender an unconditional apology on ‘The Newshour Debate’ telecast live on Times Now as well as its website, the notice read.
After the Uri terror attack, the Army had conducted surgical strikes on September 28 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Mr Awhad was invited to participate in the ‘The Newshour Debate’ on issues related to the surgical strikes.
The legal notice says that during the programme ‘The Newshour Debate,’ Mr Goswami asked Mr Awhad a question about a comment made by NCP chief Sharad Pawar “about having conducted surgical strikes.” However, Mr Goswami allegedly did not let Mr Awhad answer the question and unleashed “a verbal deluge of accusations,” the notice read. Mr Goswami also allegedly tried to portray that Mr Awhad had disrespected the Indian Army, the notice read.
When contacted, Ms Prasad refused to respond. Despite an attempt to contact Mr Goswami could not be reached.
