A Single Judge Bench of Justice Najmi Waziri of Delhi High Court today set aside the ex parte interim injunction order restraining the publication of a book on Asaram Bapu titled ‘Gunning for the Godman: The True Story Behind Asaram Bapu’s Conviction’ . It was pronounced in HarperCollins’ appeal against the injunction order passed by a district court in a suit preferred by co-convict in the Asaram Bapu rape case, Sanchita.
The Court directed that the already printed copies of the book be sold along with a flyer clarifying that the book is based on the judgment of a trial court, which is under appeal and for online sale, the disclaimer should be given electronically.
HarperCollins had contended that pre-publication censorship ought to be done very cautiously and that there was no occasion for the same in the present case seeking a vacation of the stay order.
The Court was informed by Harper Collins that the allegedly defamatory content was based entirely on the trial record and judgment.
The Court of Additional District Judge had stayed the publication of the book on the ground that the appeal against the conviction in the rape case was sub-judice before the Rajasthan High Court.
