Delhi High Court allows Red FM to continue broadcasting in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata circles till November 18

NEW DELHI: In a major relief to Sun TV Group, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday allowed Red FM to continue broadcasting in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles till November 18. The licenses of the company were to expire on Wednesday.

Digital Radio, which operates Red FM inDelhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, is an associate company of Kalanithi Maran-promoted Sun TV Group. It had asked the government to extend the licence and allow migration of its license from Phase II to Phase III. The government has not responded to Digital Radio's plea and hence it went to court to continue its operations

In May, the I&B ministry had rejected the FM channel's application to participate in the phase III auction, saying it had not received a security clearance from the home ministry because of cases against former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi Maran.

After that, the FM channel had approached the court in July against the move, which quashed the government order.The court has also directed the government to submit reasons for not giving the radio station the option of renewing its licence.

SL Narayan, CFO, Sun Group CFO told ET that it was a welcome order and that Red FM should not be denied doing opportunity to do business due to a completely unconnected case.