Innuendo: Definition and Meaning

An innuendo is a ‘subtle hint’. It comes from the Latin word innuere, which meaning is "to nod forward". Innuendo is usually used in defamation litigation. Innuendo is basically a way to comment negative remarks in a latently. Howsoever under Section 499 of IPC defaming via innuendo is considered to be a form of criminal defamation. A complainant who asserts innuendo must provide a detailed discussion of the extrinsic circumstances that give the term its extrinsic meaning in the sentence of their argument in addition to the references to the impugned phrases.

Usage of innuendo is generally seen in trade publications, advertising within a vast pool of situations.

What is Innuendo?

The term innuendo has a Latin origin, derived from innuere which can split into two words inn meaning ‘towards ‘and nuere meaning ‘to nod’. Innuendo in Latin (is considered to be a gerund to innure) means ‘to point at or to nod at’. The adverb of innuendo does not change which in turn means ‘that is to say, to wit’.

Illustrations of Innuendo

Innuendo is extrinsic evidence used to prove the defamatory nature of a remark that includes inducements, colloquialisms, and explanatory circumstances. It can be an illustration of art or an indirect remark.

In certain contexts, the scope of innuendo is incredibly broad and varied.

• A person’s image or reputation protection.

• Stronger legal amendments such as the "right to free expression," "right to privacy," and so on.

• Avoids releasing misleading or erroneous information.

• People−accessible data regulation

• Emphasizes the need of framing the message or an advertisement in a clear and better manner.

Important case lawsa

W. Hay and others vs. Aswini Kumar Samanta

A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court held in W. Hay and Ors. v. Aswini Kumar Samanta that it is well−established that in a "libel action," the ordinary defamatory language must be spelled out in the plaint. Only the words that are per se or appear to be defamatory must be specified. Where the defamatory meaning is not obvious on the face of the words, the defamatory meaning, or innuendo, must also be brought out and declared in clear and explicit terms. Whereas, here again, the defamatory remarks would be defamatory only in the context in which they were used, expressed, or published.

Lewis vs. Daily Telegraph Ltd.

In this case, two newspapers published comments stating that members of the City of London Fraud Squad were investigating the operations of R. Co. and its subsidiary firms, and that the chairman of the R. Co. was Lewis, who sued each newspaper for libel. Lewis pleaded an insinuation to the effect that the statement implied he was guilty of fraud or was suspected of being guilty of fraud or dishonesty in connection with R. Co.'s affairs by the police. R. Co. claimed a similar inference. The plaintiffs made no claim for special damages. The defendants conceded that the remarks were defamatory in their ordinary meaning, but argued that they were justified because the fraud squad was investigating R. Co at the time of publication.

V. Subair vs. P. K. Sudhakaran

The petitioner is the Editor, Printer, and Publisher of the daily newspaper 'Al Ameen'. The 25−08−1978 issue of the newspaper featured a story that a young lady from the area consulted a local medical practitioner for an ailment of her child and the doctor wanted to examine her. Despite her protests that she had no need for medical care and no money to pay for it, she was persuaded to undergo a clinical examination. According to the allegation, the medical practitioner had a fondness for attractive women, and as a result of his attentions, a female patient was forced to have an abortion. It was interpreted as an implication directed at the respondent, bringing him into discredit. Concurrently, the courts below declared the petitioner guilty of the offense punishable under Section 501 of the IPC.

Conclusion

To determine if an imputation is an innuendo or not, the latent meaning of the remark must first be understood. Innuendo cases are so rare that much more research is needed in this area of Tort Law. Blind objects are regularly employed to translate rumours into assertions, and they have an instant effective influence thanks to technological innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is innuendo prima facie?

Ans: A comment may appear to be innocent on the surface, but its secondary meaning may be judged defamatory. When a natural or ordinary statement is not defamatory, plaintiffs must prove its secondary or defamatory meaning.

Q: What are the types of innuendo?

Ans: True (or legal) innuendo and false (or popular) innuendo are the two varieties. A real innuendo is a statement in which the attack is truly concealed in the absence of unique facts and circumstances that the claimant must demonstrate are known to some of the individuals to whom the statement is published.

Q: In law and the media, what is innuendo?

Ans: Innuendo is a legal concept associated with tort and personal injury law. The word derives from the Latin word innuere, which means to nod forward. In a lawsuit, innuendo is used to describe defamation caused by libel or slander.

Q: What are the types of innuendos?

Ans: Innuendos are subtle or indirect statements made about a person or thing that are often critical or reproachful. Nature, ordinary life, harmless, unintentional, and sexual innuendos are all examples of innuendos.

Q: What does the Section 500 of IPC define?

Ans: Section 500 of the IPC addresses defamation punishment. According to the clause, anyone who defames another person will face simple imprisonment for a duration of up to two years, a fine, or both. The maximum penalty under this clause is two years in prison.