Bengaluru: 68 media houses issued a temporary gag by the Bengaluru court to prevent airing or publishing any defamatory news item or footage referring to the six ministers till the date of the next hearing.

Referencing the publication of the ‘defamatory’ footage, the submission alleged that the footage was released as a sex scandal even prior to any verification of the source. This act forced Sri Ramesh Jarkiholi to resign from his ministerial position.

Noting the presence of deep fake technology, they added the impact these fake videos can have on individuals in question and their families.

The court order mentioned that these media houses are restrained from the publication of any defamatory news/footages/pictures referring to the plaintiff in relation to the alleged CD case or indulge in intentional omission in an attempt to create character assassination.

The court maintained that though media is the 4th pillar of democracy, the plaintiffs have also their right to be protected against defamatory content that is based on unverified allegations.