Justice K Kumaresh Babu dismissed Sun TV’s appeal against the 2015 verdict of a Chennai court, observing that the channel had failed to verify the contents of the interview.
The Court found that Sun TV neither sought a clarification from Sukanya nor independently cross-checked Veerappan’s claims with other sources.
It noted that Sun TV had editorial control over the interview since under its agreement with the interviewer Rajagopal, the channel had the right to edit, cut, delete, modify or alter any part of the interview.
“Having reserved the right to edit, cut, delete or modify, alter and add any portion with an unrestricted right, it is the duty that is enjoined upon the appellant to verify the contents of the interview before its publication,” the Court ruled.
