Journalist Rohan Dua (Photo: X) Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker (File photo)
Rohan Dua, founder of news platform The New Indian, has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court, seeking removal of several tweets accusing him of conducting a “sexist” interview with Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker, according to a report by Bar and bench. The case was heard briefly on Wednesday by Judge Navin Chawla.
During the proceedings, Dua’s legal representative, advocate Raghav Awasthi, argued that the questions posed in the interview were routine and had been asked by other journalists as well. He claimed that the interview had been approved by Bhaker’s team and called the comments made by Dua “harmless” and “complementary”.
Awasthi added that the interview had been approved by Manu Bhaker’s team and was now being “misrepresented” through a 40-second viral clip.
However, Judge Chawla expressed concern that Bhaker herself had been offended by the questions asked during the interview and ordered Dua’s legal team to obtain a statement from her stating that she had no problem with the interview. The judge then adjourned the case, giving the complainant time to seek Bhaker’s response.
Rohan Dua’s interview with Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker
The controversy arose following an interview conducted by Dua after Bhaker’s impressive performance at the Paris Olympics, where she won two bronze medals, ending India’s 12-year drought in shooting. In the interview, Dua asked Bhaker about the photos of her and her mother with compatriot Neeraj Chopra, which had garnered attention on social media.
Dua posed a question that many have found controversial: “It may be a bit of a trivial and strange question to ask you, but since of course others have asked it too, I can ask you this question. It’s not that I want to belittle your medal or your efforts. But then of course the pictures went viral with Neeraj’s. I don’t know if you see it as a compliment, but of course you are one of the most attractive, beautiful women in the history of Indian Olympics or this particular sport. Are we right in assuming that there was some kind of chemistry or was it just that he [Neeraj Chopra] Did you mean to dismiss it as a one-off moment where someone clicked?
Bhaker’s response was measured, noting that he has known Chopra for a long time and considers him one of India’s best athletes. He also explained the close relationship his mother has with other athletes, stressing that the interactions were friendly and respectful.
The interview, titled “Manu Bhaker Interview | Shares His Love Interest, Olympics; On School Maths, Neeraj Chopra,” quickly sparked a controversy, particularly on social media. X (formerly Twitter) user Roshan Rai, one of the defendants in the defamation suit, slammed Dua for focusing on Bhaker’s looks rather than his sporting achievements.
“Manu Bhaker is back after winning a double bronze for India at the 2024 Paris Olympics at the age of 22. But the reporter can’t stop thinking about how beautiful and attractive she is. This is the level of Indian journalism. Shame on her,” Rai wrote.
Several other social media users expressed similar sentiments, calling the interview “sexist” and unprofessional, prompting Dua to file the defamation suit. According to the suit, these criticisms not only undermine Dua’s professional reputation but also detract from Bhaker’s accomplishments. The suit seeks to prevent further dissemination of what it describes as defamatory content.
Dua’s legal team, comprising lawyers Mukesh Sharma, Lohitaksha Shukla, Chandni Shah and Dinesh Sharma, has argued that the social media posts are based on an incomplete understanding of the interview and have unfairly damaged Dua’s reputation. The court will hear the matter again on September 2.
First published: August 28, 2024 | 16:58 IS
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