NEW DELHI, February 6: In response to the Delhi High Court's direction, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of STAR TV Gary Davy, appeared before the Delhi High Court through his counsel today.On December 19, the court had directed him to be present in the court in connection with a case relating to alleged telecast of obscene movies on the STAR's movie channel, otherwise the advertisement revenue and subscription fee remitted to them by News TV (India) Limited will be stopped.
Hearing a petition filed against STAR, Justice Mohammad Shamim, after noting the presence of Davy through his counsel Ram Jethmalani, noted jurist, exempted Rathikant Basu, Star TV's India operation chief, from personal appearance before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Prem Kumar.
The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) had summoned Basu, Star TV owner Rupert Murdoch and 24 others in the case.
Earlier, arguing for Basu, counsel S S Gandhi, contended that the TV network was in consultation with others to evolve a proper mechanism tocheck telecast of obscene movies. Basu had challenged the order of the CMM summoning him in the case.
Seeking exemption from personal appearance, Gandhi submitted that Basu was based in Mumbai and it was difficult to appear personally on each hearing. The bench observed that Basu has already appeared before the CMM once.
Saying that the larger question involved in the case would take some time to decide, Justice Shamim posted the matter for further hearing on April 13.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
