The Kozhikode sub-court II has found the Delhi-based television channel, Sudarshan TV, and its editor Suresh Chavhanke guilty in a defamation suit filed by Malabar Gold & Diamonds and its Chairman M.P. Ahammed. Passing the verdict in favor of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the sub court II judge G. Rajesh passed orders for payment of Rs 50 lakh towards compensation and court related expenses to the petitioners.

The case dates back to three years ago when the channel allegedly implicated Malabar Gold in a fake story showing a morphed CD of Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations purportedly held in Chennai. In actuality, the visuals were of celebrations organized by a Dubai- based financial services company It was on August 20, 2016 that the channel had telecast the morphed visuals and the fake news about Malabar Gold & Diamonds.

Malabar Chairman Ahammed filed the case alleging that the channel aired the fake news with ulterior motives at the behest of its business rivals to defame Malabar Gold’s impeccable reputation and show the patriotism of its promoters in poor light. A Dubai court had earlier indicted an employee of the Dubai-based financial service company in a similar case filed by Malabar Gold in a court in the UAE. Malabar Gold was represented by solicitors Adv. PS Sridaran Pillai, Adv. K. Reetha and Adv.Arun Krishna Dhan.

Reacting to the judgement, MP Ahammed said the judgement vindicates Malabar Gold’s stance and bears testimony to the victory of truth and justice.