CP shootout: 3 ex-cops in HC for more damages from TV channel

The High Court on Friday issued notice to the TV channel and its show’s producer-cum-director, who have been directed to pay Rs 20 lakh compensation to the ex-cops, and sought their replies on the plea of two of the officers, Rathi and Ashok Rana. 

The plea of the third officer, Anil Kumar, was not listed before the court. Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also took up the plea filed by the TV show’s producer who has sought stay of lower court’s January 23 order as per which he has to pay Rs five lakh to Rathi. 

The judge refused to stay the January 23 order on Friday but said that subject to the producer depositing in high court, in six weeks, his share (Rs five lakh) of the damages to be paid, the lower court’s decision against him would be put on hold.

The high court, however, made it clear that if stay is granted in favour of the producer, it would not result in a similar relief for the channel and listed the matter before the Joint Registrar on July 18.

The lower court had awarded Rs 10 lakh to Rathi and Rs five lakh each to the other two officers. While Rathi had sought damages of Rs 15 lakh, the other two had sought Rs 10 lakh each.

All of them, in their pleas filed through advocate Suraj Rathi, have sought enhancement of their compensation by another Rs five lakh as well as 12 per cent interest on the amount. The lower court in its order had said that under the auspices of proclaiming oneself to be an agency aimed at working towards public welfare and good faith, the channel, the show and its producer made a “mockery of the plaintiffs’ (ex-police officials) reputations indiscriminately”.