Defamation criminal civil Case

KLB Law Firm represented media entity Andhra Prabha in defamation proceedings spanning both criminal and civil dimensions, focusing on defenses rooted in truth, good faith, fair comment, and qualified privilege while ensuring compliance with press law and evidentiary standards.

Overview & Challenges

The matter required balancing free press obligations with reputation rights by verifying sources, offering right of response, and documenting due diligence to fit within statutory exceptions to defamation.

• Asserting statutory exceptions for truth and good faith comment on matters of public interest, supported by contemporaneous records and source notes.
• Demonstrating responsible journalism standards, including verification, disclaimers, and opportunities for rebuttal, to establish absence of malice.
• Handling the issues of which court has authority, what legal limits apply, and who the person making the complaint is, when there are multiple criminal cases and civil lawsuits happening at the same time.
• Managing vicarious liability questions for proprietors, editors, and publishers under press registration frameworks and case law.
• Managing vicarious liability questions for proprietors, editors, and publishers under press registration frameworks and case law.