BBC Documentary on PM Modi: SC Agrees to Hear Pleas Challenging its Ban

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday decided to hear requests challenging the Centre’s decision to block the controversial BBC documentary on PM Narendra Modi and allegations linked to the 2002 Gujarat riots. The apex court will hear these pleas next Monday. “It will be listed on Monday,” the CJI DY Chandrachud said.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala took note of the submissions by lawyer ML Sharma and senior advocate CU Singh seeking urgent listing of their PILs on the issue.

Lawyer Sharma mentioned in his plea that people were being arrested.

Advocate CU Singh mentioned a plea filed by veteran journalist N Ram, Trinamool Congress MP mahua Moitra, and lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan.

It was alleged that tweets by Ram and Bhushan were deleted by using emergency powers. Lawyer Sharma said the students in Ajmer were rusticated for streaming the documentary.

Centre has decided to block the BBC documentary, alleging it was “mala fide, arbitrary and unconstitutional”. So, PILs were filed against the ban order of the Central government against the documentary.