TV host takes sting operators to court

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" justify="">MUMBAI: Actor and TV host Aman Verma filed a criminal complaint against India TV in a metropolitan court onMonday for conducting a ''sting operation'' on him, and claimed that the intention was to blackmail him and extort money.<br /><br />The complaint filed at the Andheri court names India TV, CEO Rajat Sharma, programme manager Suhaib Ilyasi and ''supposed'' journalist Ruchi as the accused.<br /><br />It said the video recording of the ''sting operation'' was not aired by the channel for more than three months until the day after the actor lodged a police complaint.It also alleged the tapes had been doctored and and manipulated as per the requirement of the accused.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" justify=""><br />Thematter will be heard on April 26. Verma said he had been approached by a Delhi-based model who called herself Ruchi in December 2004. She had plagued him withcalls and sought his assistance in her bid tomake it big in films. She toldhim that she had come to Mumbai and was staying in a Juhu hotel.Ruchi visited him at his residence on December 17 when he was alone. She inquired about the functioning of the film and TV industry during the conversation, whichlasted for 15-20 minutes. The complaint notes that there was no physical contact between the two nor had any food or drink been consumed in the flat.<br /><br />The actor had not given permission to the channel to record any video nor telecast any kind of audio and hence the sting operation amounted to invading his right to privacy, the complaint stated. The actor also alleged that the channel had committed the offence of defamation.</div> </div>