Sparking a widespread debate on freedom of speech and defamation by blocking several URLs, including that of a UGC website, through a High Court order, IIPM founder, Arindam Chaudhuri, has now, through a Jharkhand court order, enjoined DoT to block India’s famous Chacha Chaudhary comics for defaming him and harming his business interests.
“What nonsense, yaar? The entire comic series is a sham!” fumed the self-proclaimed management guru cum economist cum film producer cum academic. “First, they insidiously portray me as a bucolic old man sporting a pagdi, when in reality I’m a suave and happening dude with a very fashionable ponytail. They go on to say that my brain works faster than a computer. Rubbish! I’ve always dared to think beyond computers! Also, in the comic, my dog Rocket is supposedly vegetarian. Again, false, when in reality, I’ve taught it to count its chickens before they hatch! To top it all, this Chacha Chaudhary series has been published by Diamond comics. ‘Discover the Diamond in you’ is my mantra! Thoda credit to maangta hai yaar! This amounts to defamation as well as plagiarism! I’m gonna sue Pran,” Arindam said.
“Also, who is this Sabu guy? Apparently, when he’s angry, a volcano erupts in Jupiter! Well, he surely hasn’t seen me on ‘Face the Nation’ with Sagarika Ghose! I would like to state on record that I have no friends from Jupiter. I only have enemies over there who’re hiring people to defame me across planets and destroy my business,” Chaudhuri added. Cartoonist Pran is devastated by the ruling, but has vowed to take on Arindam legally, saying, “Pran jaaye par shaan na jaaye.”
Diamond Comics’ lame defense that their character’s surname is spelled as ‘Chaudhary’ while Arindam’s is spelled ‘Chaudhuri’ did not stand up to judicial scrutiny. “What do you think this is? A Kangaroo court?” fumed Justice Shabu Soren, while overruling the respondents’ argument. “Learn from the master, Dr. Swamy, when it comes to taking potshots safely. He imaginatively and adroitly uses code words such as ‘Tadakka’ and ‘Buddhu’ to attack his opponents.”