Team Herald
PANJIM: Along with sections of the Goan media, Sunburn has also dragged Google, Facebook and X to court by filing an interim application before the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, with a plea to restrain these digital platforms as well as national and local media houses from making comments on the consistently controversial EDM festival.
Notices have been sent to 18 respondents including O Heraldo. Politicians, lawyers and activists have resolved to take up the battle for Goa against Sunburn. The festival has frequently been in the eye of the storm, with allegations over drug use, pollution, posing an environmental hazard and more. Opposition to the festival has united Goans cutting across social strata.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State president Adv Amit Palekar has pledged to fight all the cases pro bono.
Speaking to us, Palekar said, “Police have to function independently, but unfortunately that is not happening, which is why the situation is deteriorating. Sunburn, which is now owned by another company, has filed a Rs 100 crore defamation case and has sought an injunction in the High Court of Judicature at Bombay. This thing happens when the government becomes corrupt and bankrupt. People of Goa, elected represenatitves and even media houses that took up the issue of drug abuse during such events have been made party to the case. When such things happen, it shows the failure of the government.”
On Monday, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao and South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes also pledged to carry on the fight against the music festival, soon after news of the court case trickled in.