POOJA. G. M. vs ASSOCIATED BROADCASTING COMPANY. PVT. LTD.,

- 1 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026





IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

TH
DATED THIS THE 15 DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026


BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND


WRIT PETITION NO. 32060 OF 2026 (GM-CPC)

BETWEEN:

1. POOJA. G. M.,
D/O MADAIAH,
AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS,
RESIDING AT M AQUA,
OLD MADRAS ROAD,
KR PURAM, BENGALURU
KARNATAKA-560036

2. MANJUNATHA. S. P.
S/O PRABHAKAR ACHAR
AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS,
NO.21, ITI COLONY,
OLD MADRAS ROAD, K.R. PURAM
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA-560036
…PETITIONERS









Digitally signed
by VINUTHA B
S
Location: High
Court of
Karnataka

(BY SRI AKSHAY S., ADVOCATE)
AND:

1. ASSOCIATED BROADCASTING
COMPANY. PVT. LTD.,
(TV9 NETWORK).
TV9 KANNADA AND YOUTUBE
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, NO. 13/1,
RHENIUS STREET, RICHMOND TOWN,
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 560025.

- 2 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026



2. NETWORK18 MEDIA AND INVESTMENTS LTD
(NEWS18 KANNADA AND YOUTUBE)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, 4TH FLOOR,
SILVER JUBILEE BLOCK,
CSI COMPOUND, UNITY
BUILDING, 3RD CROSS, MISSION
ROAD, BENGALURU - 560027

3. WRITEMEN MEDIA PVT LTD
(PUBLIC TV)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICE AT,
4TH FLOOR, TTMC, BMTC BUILDING,
YESHWANTHPUR
CIRCLE, YESHWANTHPUR,
BENGALURU - 560022.

4. ASIANXT DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD
(ASIANET SUVARNA NEWS)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE, INFANTRY ROAD,
OFFICE AT, NO. 204, EMBASSY SQUARE,
BENGALURU,
KARNATAKA-560001.

5. ARG OUTLIER MEDIA PVT LTD
(REPUBLIC KANNADA)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICE AT,
13/3 LAL BAGH MAIN ROAD,
K.S. GARDEN, VINOBHA NAGAR,
SUDHAMA NAGAR, BENGALURU -560027

6. OLECOM MEDIA PVT LTD
(NEWS FIRST KANNADA)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICE AT, NO.31,
TBR TOWER, NEW MISSION ROAD,

- 3 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026



1ST A CROSS JC RD, BENGALURU,
KARNATAKA-560027

7. VISTARA MEDIA PVT LTD
VISTARA NEWS (NOW PNS VISTAARA NEWS)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, NO 1, 2ND AND 4TH FLOOR,
INDIAN EXPRESS BUILDING,
QUEENS ROAD, BENGALURU,
KARNATAKA-560001

8. POWERSMART MEDIA (OPC) PVT LTD
(POWER TV)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, NO. 7, 11TH MAIN ROAD,
1ST STAGE, 1ST PHASE, GOKUL EXTENSION,
MATHIKERE MAIN ROAD,
YESHWANTHPUR, MATHIKERE,
BENGALURU NORTH,
KARNATAKA 560054

9. GUARANTEE NEWS
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, JP ROYALE COMPLEX, 3RD FLOOR,
SAMPIGE ROAD,
MALLESHWARAM, BENGALURU,
KARNATAKA - 560003

10. SHREYA BROADCASTING PVT LTD
(TV5 KANNADA)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, 129, RAILWAY PARALLEL RD,
KUMARAPARK WEST, SESHADRIPURAM,
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 560020

- 4 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026



11. ZEE MEDIA CORPORATION LTD
(ZEE KANNADA NEWS AND WEB)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, 39, 3RD FLOOR,
UNITED MANSION, MAHATMA GANDHI ROAD,
NEXT TO KAVERI EMPORIUM,
SHANTHALA NAGAR,
ASHOK NAGAR, BENGALURU,
KARNATAKA 560001

12. RAJ TELEVISION NETWORK LTD
(PNS RAJ NEWS KANNADA)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, NO. 16/1, KKMP,
ABOVE PAI VIHAR HOTEL,
NEAR AMBEDKAR BHAVAN,
THIMMAIAH ROAD, VASANTH NAGAR,
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 560052.

13. SAMPIGE MEDIA PVT. LTD.,
FREEDOM TV KANNADA
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, NO. 24, 2ND FLOOR,
1ST MAIN, SUBEDAR CHATRAM ROAD,
LOWER PALACE ORCHARDS,
SADASHIVA NAGAR, BANGALORE,
KARNATAKA 560009

14. SPUNKLANE MEDIA PVT LTD
THE NEWS MINUTE
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, NO. 6 SBI ROAD,
MADRAS BANK ROAD,
BENGALURU 560001

- 5 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026



15. P TV NEWS KANNADA (YOUTUBE)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, NO.101,
LIVORA CREST 33/4, VIJAYANAGARA,
SPRING DALE LAYOUT,
WHITEFIELD, BENGALURU-560066

16. SAMPOORNA INFO MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED.,
(SAMPOORNA NEWS YOUTUBE),
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICE AT,
NO.3, 3RD FLOOR, BEST COUNTY
BUS STOP, BASHA COLONY,
HESARAGHATTA MAIN ROAD,
VIDYARANYAPURA POST,
BENGALURU - 560097

17. OVERTHETOP LIVE PRIVATE LIMITED
(NEWS BEAT KARNATAKA YOUTUBE)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT, KAILASH TOWER 158,
BHOOPASANDRA MAIN ROAD,
UAS LAYOUT, SANJAYANAGARA,
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA-560094

18. TV TODAY NETWORK LTD.,
(THE LALLANTOP)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICE AT,
FC-8, SECTOR 16A, FILM CITY,
NOIDA, UTTAR PRADESH 201301

19. THE INDIAN EXPRESS (P) LTD
(THE INDIAN EXPRESS PRINT AND WEB)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICE AT EXPRESS
BUILDING, 1, QUEENS ROAD,
VASANTH NAGAR, BENGALURU,

- 6 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026



KARNATAKA 560001.

20. MANIPAL MEDIA NETWORK LTD
(UDAYAVANI PRINT)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT UDAYAVANI BUILDING,
UDAYAVANI ROAD,
ESHWAR NAGAR, MANIPAL,
KARNATAKA - 576104

21. BENNETT, COLEMAN AND CO. LTD
(VIJAY KARNATAKA PRINT)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT 74/2, SANJANA PLAZA,
4TH AND 5TH FLOOR,
ELEPHANT ROCK ROAD,
JAYANAGAR 3RD BLOCK,
BENGALURU - 560011

22. VRL MEDIA PVT LTD
(VIJAYAVANI PRINT)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT NO. 24,
SRI SAIRAM TOWERS,
5TH MAIN ROAD, CHAMARAJPET,
BENGALURU -560018

23. THE PRINTERS (MYSORE) PVT LTD
(PRAJAVANI AND DECCAN HERALD PRINT)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT 75, M.G. ROAD,
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 560001

24. KANNADA PRABHA PUBLICATIONS LTD
(KANNADA PRABHA PRINT)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED

- 7 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026



REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICE AT EXPRESS BUILDING,
NO. 1, QUEENS ROAD,
BENGALURU - 560001

25. VISHWAKSHARA MEDIA PVT LTD
(VISHWAVANI PRINT)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICE AT NO. 11 SPR,
NISARGA ENCLAVE,
THIRD FLOOR, 5TH A STAGE,
RAJARAJESHWARINAGAR,
BENGALURU-560 098.

26. HT MEDIA LTD
(HINDUSTAN TIMES WEB)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT 309, 3RD FLOOR,
BRIGADE GARDENS, CHURCH STREET,
BRIGADE ROAD, BANGALORE-560001

27. INDIAN MASTERMINDS RESEARCH PVT LTD
(INDIAN MASTERMINDS WEB)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE, OFFICE AT PIONEER HOUSE,
A-50, A BLOCK, SECTOR 15, NOIDA,
UTTAR PRADESH - 201301

28. ERELEGO DIGI MEDIA PVT LTD
(KANNADA DUNIA WEB)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT I MEDIA INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGIES, 3RD BLOCK,
SIR M VISHVESWARAYA LAYOUT,
JNANA GANGA NAGAR,
ULLAL, KARNATAKA 560110

29. NEEL MAAN MEDIA LLP
(NAVASAMAJA WEB)

- 8 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026



REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT 1034/126F,
20TH MAIN ROAD
5TH BLOCK, RAJAJINAGAR
BANGALORE NORTH, BENGALURU,
KARNATAKA-560010

30. NIRANTARA KESARI MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
NIRANTARA NEWS (WEB)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT NO 271/3, TENGINMATH ROAD,
HUNDEKAR GALLI, WARD NO-5,
BAGALKOT, KARNATAKA, 587101

31. ABP NETWORK PVT LTD
(ABP LIVE WEB)
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT GROUND, 1ST,
AND 7TH FLOOR,
PLOT A-3, A-4, AND A-5,
CLUB 125, SECTOR 125, NOIDA,
GAUTAM BUDDHA NAGAR,
UTTAR PRADESH - 201313

32. PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD
DINAMALAR
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE,
OFFICE AT 2/1-3, POOMACHANDRA,
CONNAUGHT ROAD,
QUEENS ROAD CROSS,
BENGALURU - 560052

33. JOHN DOE/ASHOK KUMAR
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI PRADEEP NAYAK, ADVOCATE FOR C/R4)

- 9 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026



THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE
ORDER IMPUGNED DATED 06.10.2026 PASSED ON I A NO. 01
BY THE 22ND ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT
BENGALURU (CCH-7) IN O S NO. 7469/2026 PRODUCED AT
ANNEXURE-G AND ALLOW THE WP.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND

ORAL ORDER

Learned counsel appearing for respondent on caveat
raised preliminary issue regarding maintainability of the writ
petition.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners seeks leave of
this Court to withdraw the petition and file an appeal.

3. In that view, the petition is dismissed as withdrawn

4. In view of the urgency pleaded, the petitioners are
granted liberty to prefer an appeal by enclosing photocopies of
the relevant documents, along with appropriate applications.

- 10 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58621
WP No. 32060 of 2026


CNR: KAHC010705002026



5. Having regard to the certified copies of the said
documents placed on record in the present petition, if request
is made to return the certified copies, the Registry shall
consider the same in accordance with law.




Sd/-
(K. V. ARAVIND)
JUDGE





VBS
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 40