Sushant Death Case Probe: Bombay HC urges media to exercise restraint before publishing reports.
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Bombay High Court while hearing two PILs pertaining to the unfair, malicious and false media campaign against Mumbai Police in the matter of death of film actor Sushant Singh Rajput, passed an order, where it stated that it expects media organizations to exercise restraint in the media coverage.
The Court added that it would like to have the response of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on record, before it considers other reliefs sought for in two PILs.
A division Bench of Justices AA Sayed and SP Tavade today passed an order stating that it expects and urge the media to show restraint before reporting anything that would hamper the investigation into the case.
One petition which was moved by 8 former Mumbai Police officers and three activists.
Senior Advocate Milind Sathe appearing for the Police argued that the media reportage on the case appears like an attempt to influence a neutral investigation.
He further submitted in his petition that a section of TV Channels has been trying to influence the course of investigation being done by the central agencies through their biased reporting and false propaganda.
The sensational reporting and wide circulation of the false and distorted facts, the good image of Mumbai Police is Systematically tarnished, which is considered as one of the most efficient police forces in the country.
Appearing for the activists raising similar concerns Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat contended that the primary grievance is against media coverage that posts as direct interference in the administration of justice.
Both the petitioners sought the directions to the Union of India, Press Council of India, News broadcaster’s Association and News Broadcasting Standards Authority to issue guide lines to retrain media from publishing any content that may jeopardize the reputation of Mumbai Police.
“Media has virtually taken over the investigation and is doing parallel investigation and parallel trial. Mumbai Police is being called a co-conspirator, there is a malicious vilification campaign” Sathe Added.
He also referred to the order passed by Supreme Court on August 19 to hand over the investigation to the CBI, Sathe Submitted that the top court had not found any fault with the procedure adopted by the Mumbai Police, and that the CBI probe was ordered in particular circumstances of the case where the state of Bihar and Maharashtra were making allegation against each other.
According to the August, 19 Supreme Court Order it is mentioned that “as because both states are making acrimonious allegations of political interference against each other, the legitimacy of the investigating has come under cloud. Accusing figures have been pointed and people have taken the liberty to put out their own conjectures and theories”.
Sathe also submitted that Press Council of India has also expressed its disapproval “Press council of India has noted with distress that coverage of the alleged suicide by a Film actor by many media outlets are in contravention of the Norms of Journalistic Conduct framed by the PCI”the Media should not narrate the story in a manner so as to induce the general public to believe I the complicity of the person indicted.”
When one of the witnesses came out of CBI office after interrogation, the media hounded him asking about the kind of the question asked is the kind of reporting which the fourth estate should do. Asked Senior Advocate Devadatt kamat appearing on behalf of the activist.
Law Commission of India has also frowned the publications on the character of the accused, comments reflecting on the merits of the case under investigation.
Additional Solicitor General Anil C. Singh appearing for the Central Government, had sought for adjustment of the hearing to tomorrow by saying that copies of the petitions have not been served on the Centre, and that none of the channels had appeared before the Court.
